tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63474806779722689652024-02-19T11:02:52.638-05:00Running Rocks.Running Music Blog<br>
by<br>
Lady SouthpawLady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-13844699906153512892012-09-28T12:48:00.001-04:002012-09-28T12:48:31.024-04:00Book People UniteThis is such a cute video featuring all your favorite children's book characters come to life!<br /><a href='http://dy.si/KYb'>Book People Unite</a>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-50618262715707716772011-10-20T17:04:00.004-04:002011-10-20T17:13:48.222-04:00This Blog Has Moved!<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">I have decided to roll up my website and blog into one.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlanBAdYcb3zIQiJ6CLLsIubOMFfNk_ihJhKRfZJIsD6Qe1Wt5endLkUOYqaImpAU49rt4x9zPCj_eieijfysbtA0OCR9ipeBMRYm_5ezC_talfciUkF9uQpavScmYZXolg67i-ensOz2z/s400/ladysouthpawmusic_logo_625.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 82px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665685397539887762" /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Check out the introductory post:</span></div><div><a href="http://www.ladysouthpaw.com/running-rocks-blog/new-lady-southpaw-site-and-blog"><span class="Apple-style-span" >http://www.ladysouthpaw.com/running-rocks-blog/new-lady-southpaw-site-and-blog</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >The themes will still be running and music content but with some new ideas.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Look out for upcoming posts on:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >The Lady Southpaw Band playing the ING New York Marathon</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >An archive of running approved 180 bpm songs</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Running & workout playlists</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >New Songs!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >More upcoming events</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Blogspot & bloggers, I still love you.</span></div></div></div>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-12987759757357815532011-04-28T16:32:00.004-04:002011-04-28T16:44:17.626-04:00Lady Southpaw the Band<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHl3Jullw__QkmpyBwq9WC6t9NRHQG9sz7Gg433gVlaPXMiDT15yMGxyHP_yet4wpt-L_ATrCWByCJIUBBtmqm-udj_Hwa0Lq02F4k1Q3NgUMwKWtNotJbbTz6dTF0OS08x5FToLm146U/s1600/Lady-Southpaw-NYC-Half_Marathon-2011.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" >The Running Rocks blog has been silent lately. I'm hoping for a re-birth soon! The show last month with the full band was great.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >First we played the New York Road Runners' NYC Half Marathon. It was colder than 2010, but despite barely being able to feel my fingertips (which believe me, complicates guitar playing) we had a great time rocking out for the runners!!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHl3Jullw__QkmpyBwq9WC6t9NRHQG9sz7Gg433gVlaPXMiDT15yMGxyHP_yet4wpt-L_ATrCWByCJIUBBtmqm-udj_Hwa0Lq02F4k1Q3NgUMwKWtNotJbbTz6dTF0OS08x5FToLm146U/s320/Lady-Southpaw-NYC-Half_Marathon-2011.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600737653633817906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Then those who weren't too exhausted came out to celebrate with us at the Delancey. The venue was really great and gave us 2 for 1 well drinks all night (I had quite a few gin and tonics once it was all done, and was a very loud though supportive audience member for The Fades.)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJCGUeSTEVsZGrTaCa9icBfcPcabm_71BB62UJoh08yxgBxrvHwgeDIAyop50XnHCT8VDTsxO73PkGluNenPmYzWd0qcGA50bWbq181enpK5rkDefPJLBfQf3_VfO2NP6QstHOe8zLRu3/s320/Lady-Southpaw-Delancey-NYC.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600737764316910802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-11002326718438663512011-03-01T00:54:00.020-05:002011-03-18T10:54:49.362-04:00NYCRUNS presents Running Rocks! Lady Southpaw and The Fades<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9fuH30XC44-2IUC1UyVT_LcKL8h-9sFoY1J3Fgb77EGmbx0vvWJpOy4D-E2P1gg5zA2DNug4jf2CCHlRIqEBpQzxbd_Ba8xe9awftCQyvVj9CLXeL4svz2cnXXSlTGY3jhZTYPNYzrRk/s1600/party_final.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580684708894005554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 336px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9fuH30XC44-2IUC1UyVT_LcKL8h-9sFoY1J3Fgb77EGmbx0vvWJpOy4D-E2P1gg5zA2DNug4jf2CCHlRIqEBpQzxbd_Ba8xe9awftCQyvVj9CLXeL4svz2cnXXSlTGY3jhZTYPNYzrRk/s400/party_final.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Are you a runner in New York?</span></span></div><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Do you need to squeeze running into an already tight schedule in order to stay sane?</span></p><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Do you find yourself stumbling to the train at dawn on Saturdays & Sundays when others are stumbling home because you need to get to a race in Central Park and have to compensate for the weekend's inevitable MTA service changes? </span></p><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Would get more turned on by a special discount at Jack Rabbit than a sale at Victoria's Secret?</span></p><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Are you overflowing with questions and opinions about gear, sport nutrition, and the best ways to improve your times?</span></p><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Then it's time we got together! Let's celebrate the sport we love in the city we love to do it in. What more appropriate day than on Sunday March 20, after the <a href="http://www.nyrr.org/races/2011/nychalf/entertainment.asp" target="_blank">NYC Half Marathon</a>. What's that, you're not running the half this year? That doesn't mean you can't party like you did!</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578992585466654114" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSDIBDdJuImId6aO5yeycqFlV4ibIjLWD6ry9DDZXcMwfvhS6xfx5o2vrHqeYL0mfMckV0dn_s31b5AbyqrdMV_A-LrSXsIa5rn7viFNwqm3eiBNd0JNMyBc5KT9Xj7qJbo1s3uWsA1NI/s200/LadySouthpaw_sponsored09.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></span></p><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Two bands of New York area runners will be on hand to play your favorite tunes!</span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"></span><div><div><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ladysouthpawmusic" target="_blank">Lady Southpaw</a>, formerly a solo act, is making its debut as a full on rock band! We will be playing original running music from the "Songs for Running," EP (available on <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=318856431&s=143441" target="_blank">iTunes</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00299DR1Y/ref=dm_dp_adp?ie=UTF8&qid=1242842724&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a>) as well as some running appropriate covers, punked up to high speeds. The setlist is wide ranging: from Blondie, and the Boss, to Keane and Florence & the Machine. <a href="http://twitter.com/HellaSound" target="_blank">John</a> of <a href="http://www.hellasound.com/" target="_blank">Hella Sound Premium Running Music</a> will even be on hand to play bass.</span></p><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underlinefont-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578993101190032066" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 115px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xMSciqwAs7lnsTjzV3WrF5BuPUxfWDtYtPDU9R9NUiYT5oUczmw_WQiifp0YU7UHJrcmg8SdU9YPn7NDqYXFza_Ad4q3B766UE_N-EAD36FBIlKW9zF4xM3naZAQfKuIUQp7d2udqtlc/s200/fades_shapeimage_2.png" border="0" /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underlinefont-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16;" ><br /></span></span></div><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><a href="http://thefadesnyc.com/About_Us.html" target="_blank">The Fades</a> have wowed crowds throughout New York City and beyond with our high-energy sets and fun-loving stage act. Dedicated to recreating those ‘80s tunes that defined the decade, we get people moving, singing along and always screaming for more. Why the ‘80s? Because boys don’t cry and girls just want to have fun. In other words, we love rock-n-roll and didn’t stop believing. We love performing and we think it shows. So if you‘re working for the weekend and want to rock this town, The Fades may be the band for you. Rad!</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underlinefont-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578993446704476466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgHxvKeyrhnJzdhwGM1sEofh7fAVE31qXhKj0SMdvYn2dO9XVfrNGUqC4upyYr6Hj2ovbVnHJo1d5g70SVtmEuctr5VBla8SiHbVkWrHxVnLWlBZsG6GDfLM0NTe8vWL3S4rxwy5L-tyB/s320/fades_WildJump_opt.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underlinefont-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16;" ><br /></span></span></div><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">NYCRUNS.COM is a network for all things related to <a href="http://nycruns.com/" target="_blank">New York Area Running</a>. Check it out and register if you haven't already.</span></p><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">Running Rocks! NYCRUNS.COM Presents </span></b></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">Lady Southpaw and The Fades</span></b></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><a href="http://nycruns.com/runningrocks">http://nycruns.com/runningrocks</a></span></b></span></p><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><a href="http://www.thedelancey.com/" target="_blank"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Delancey</span></b></a></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">168 Delancey (btw Clinton & Attorney)</span></b></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">New York, NY 10002</span></b></span></p><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></b></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sunday March 20, 2011</span></b></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Doors open @ 4:00 for some pre show drinking and meet-ups</span></b></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lady Southpaw @ 5:00</span></b></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Fades @ 6:00</span></b></span></p><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Buy <a href="http://nycruns.com/runningrocks">tickets online on NYCRUNS.com</a> for $10 </span></p><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">If they don't sell out tickets will be available at the door for $15</span></p><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Enjoy the 2 for 1 well drinks special for the event.</span></p><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Don't be afraid to bring your friends and significant others who don't run; they can start a little support group for those living with runners. Maybe they'll even be inspired when they see that most runners are actually crazy in a good way.</span></p><p style="MIN-HEIGHT: 14px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica"><br /></p></div></div>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-63206586642943971892011-01-08T14:14:00.011-05:002011-01-14T07:27:33.600-05:00Lady Southpaw Wants You!<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I’m psyched to announce I’m already on the roster to play the <a href="http://www.nyrr.org/races/2011/nychalf/entertainment.asp" target="_blank">NYC Half</a> again in 2011! I had a really great time playing for the runners last year and I would love to continue to play big events like this because they’re just plain fun.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">This goes hand in hand with my other announcement which is that I’m sick of Lady Southpaw being a one woman show. I’m sick of messing with backing tracks and drum loops. I want to let go and sweat and really have a good time! I’ve been talking about a band for awhile and it’s pointless waiting for it to happen organically; I am officially on the search! I’m primarily looking for a bassist and a drummer so if you know anyone in the NYC area please send them my way.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">To contact me regarding the band write to ladysouthpawmusic (at) gmail (dot) com. Send me something about yourself, your influences and why you’d be interested in being part of a “running rock” band. I will then contact you with the follow up info.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Posting info:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Looking for musicians to form a “running rock” band</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF9900;">Who:</span></b> Required - Bass & Drums (be very comfortable with the tempo 180 bpm or 90 bpm)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Other </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';">instrumentalists,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> percussionists, beat-makers and key board players are also welcome to audition</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Musicians who are runners and ladies are especially encouraged to audition, but it is not a requirement (good musicianship is of course the most important thing.)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF9900;">What:</span></b> A female fronted alt/punk/garage-y up tempo rock band to perform a mix of covers and originals at running related events. In order to be “running” music it must have a bpm of 180 or up so covers may be sped up. Think “Me First and the Gimme Gimmes” for the covers. Will also perform some existing Lady Southpaw originals with the potential of collaborating on new songs moving forward. Some influences include: Patti Smith, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Blondie, The Pretenders, Dead Weather, Metric, Florence and the Machine, PJ Harvey, Liz Phair, Janis Joplin, Joan Jett, The Who, The Ramones, Weezer, Green Day, Arctic Monkeys, Spoon, The Hold Steady...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF9900;">Where:</span></b> at running races, expos, post race parties or anywhere else runners want to hang out and party.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF9900;">When:</span></b> ASAP! Will be playing at the NYC Half Marathon, March 2011</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF9900;">How:</span></b> Auditions... a studio in NYC please contact for details</span></div>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-31809651344037319372010-11-13T18:23:00.019-05:002010-11-13T19:52:13.647-05:00ING New York City MARATHON: The Race Report<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHI7BK4ztAhfoZp-7UFt4tuyl3kiUdXFVAWwrKtCJtr4HSFOvJwRdvuHz4ZE6aKw7GDWPIoV-kx4RxmxnwRbgUfhxjZiOe-r2JGcpkefnUDNQemcbKmGeCa7OR5THwJ2tpypYAxp2X8k7/s1600/heart_murmur.jpg"></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">My first ING New York City Marathon, in a word it was, bittersweet. The more I look back on it the more it feels sweet, but at the time I had a little bitterness that took some of the excitement out of the day.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">There was one issue that seriously got in my way mentally. I mentioned it to a few people but tried not to make a big deal about it before the race. The last time I went to a doctor she noted that I had a heart murmur (see diagram B below for a basic explanation.) I asked her if that would affect my plans to run the marathon and she said she didn't think it would be a good idea for me to do it. I decided I wanted another opinion so I went to a cardiologist with a copy of my echo cardiogram to get a better idea of exactly what risks were involved. His opinion was similar to the first doctor's. He said I had an increased risk of developing a fatal arrhythmia during extreme exercise. However, it was not a huge risk because I'm in great health with normal blood pressure and no other symptoms. As a doctor, he didn't want to give me 100% clearance. Although he did say if I really felt I had to run it, to use caution and drop out if it was too humid, polluted or if I felt dizzy. He also mentioned dehydration could increase the risks.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHI7BK4ztAhfoZp-7UFt4tuyl3kiUdXFVAWwrKtCJtr4HSFOvJwRdvuHz4ZE6aKw7GDWPIoV-kx4RxmxnwRbgUfhxjZiOe-r2JGcpkefnUDNQemcbKmGeCa7OR5THwJ2tpypYAxp2X8k7/s400/heart_murmur.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539191964276352338" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 358px; " /></span><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">This was very upsetting because I had trained so well all season and I felt great. I had gotten the 9 minute mile down to a science and during my last couple half marathons I spent more and more miles in the 8:30-8:40/mile range. I got my 5K time down to a 7:30 pace and my 1 mile record was 6:31 which I hit once in practice and once during the 5th Ave mile race. I was really set on getting as close to a 4 hour marathon as possible (which would be a 9:22 min per mile pace.)</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The other thing was not as big of a deal but was probably more of a consequence of my own stubbornness. I wanted this race to be a solo mission. All season I had been training with Team in Training. I ran the Hamptons Half with them as my main event so I did my duty with all the fundraising and mentoring already. I didn't do some of the fanfare with them that goes with race day. The main thing was that I didn't take the bus over with the team. Mainly because it didn't make sense since I live really close to the start line on the Brooklyn side of the Verrazano. So I got my own transportation thinking I would end up running into some people I knew in the corrals beforehand. I didn't see anyone! It was a maze of unfamiliar faces. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">That aside, all my pre-race rituals went like clock work. I felt fueled, hydrated and I had a chance to empty my bladder. I decided to run with my fuel belt which I didn't want to do, but I was so paranoid about the hydration factor I really wanted the extra security. I felt really dehydrated after my last 20 mile long run and I didn't want to risk that happening again.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The route is very appropriate for my "solo mission." It is starts with a tour of all the neighborhoods I've lived in since moving to New York. Basically, the Brooklyn section starts where I currently live, goes through the neighborhood I moved from and ends in the neighborhood I lived in when I first got here. In between are an array of my favorite hang outs and stomping grounds. It's all the different evolutions that I've gone through since I moved here as a bright eyed girl from Michigan coming straight out of college. There have been different apartments, room mates, jobs, boyfriends, friends, the only common denominator has been me. It's my personal experience of the borough. </span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZ9o0Nw1aMO3LwZE0lKgeBYKUBRkCufi1RjohZgVO3aWnpx-9S6t54mnzns2MSKdUnd4AVmkE9aXkhLq7tVvsgQgelDcmCjnSZ7-qp5RjAV8Pw-tgijh57dwrVc2m3ba1oxjlQ0PqKvUZ/s320/large_INGmarathon_verazano.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539185370882630802" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px; " /></span> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Waiting for the start they blasted Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York," through the speakers and I could already feel myself getting choked up. I was running with a heart rate monitor for the first time which was another factor in my overall race performance. They say nothing new on race day but a doctor friend of mine suggested it as a measure to keep an eye on what my heart was doing. It was the worst before the race because I would see the rate rise with every surge of anxiety that I felt. I felt extremely emotional listening to Sinatra and looking up at Verrazano, a bridge I can see from my apartment building and something I was really excited to run over. Still, I was extremely nervous and I didn't want to get too excited early on and create higher risks later in the race. At this point I decided I should try to develop more of an even kiel and stay cool in the face of this race.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I had talked to friends and co-workers beforehand asking them where they would be along the route. I figured I would see at least some of them. Not one. Somehow, I managed to miss everyone! The worst of which was my boyfriend who I missed in THREE places. I blame myself. I didn't specify the side of the road. I may have been to vague in my understanding of exactly where they'd be. Also, I was a little sad my parents weren't there, but there were some obstacles that came up for them and I told them not to worry about it. I could've tried to help them plan out a trip further in advance but I didn't. Early in the race this also weighed on me a little and again it caused me to decide to bury my emotions and keep a sense of calm detachment throughout.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">My first marathon was very emotional. I ran with Team in Training in San Francisco. I ran with <a href="http://kickinglifeintheface.blogspot.com/">my friend Jess</a>. We talked about our friends and family members touched by cancer we were running for. I saw my parents and our coaches along the route. It was more about the people than the place. New York was the opposite.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">When I first signed up for New York I put my estimated time as 4:30 because I wasn't confident in my goal at that point. As a result I was in a slower corral than I've been used to the last year or two. The crowd was so thick and I was running slower than I had run in a race in well over a year. I was running slower than I had run in any of my training runs by a minute and sometimes over. That was both hard and frustrating. There were so many people it was tough to do anything different from the pack. Plus worrying about my heart made me paranoid about taking off too fast too early. Interestingly a few of the times I tried speeding up my heart rate actually went down. I really do feel like there is such a thing as running too slow and that it is almost as hard as running too fast. Unfortunately the nature of the course and all the people made it difficult to ever find a truly comfortable rhythm.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTDfpawkKHpGksitmu7rC-WE88O1SMGxoIDqa7dU7i9Y9ouwiMbw5mc_dSaI3hPniifTrvMjrq5N5VnDjRqFtAOO7Y-sPbBVEI5Q51fJ8UGl-tDTvuM8Mbsv5FAMoXf44gpoZkWzCJ7uhG/s320/NYCMarathon_run_LadySouthpaw.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539183300779172818" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 176px; height: 287px; " /></span><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">That's all the bitter, now for the sweet. The race fans were awesome!! Even though I couldn't find my friends there was no shortage of complete strangers cheering me on at every turn. I loved seeing all my familiar neighborhoods and how they fit together. It was like putting together a puzzle I always missed when riding the subway. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Then of course there was the music!! I really got excited by all the bands. Of course you would only get a small taste of each of them while running, but the ones with a lot of guitars and a good beat always got me really excited.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">That's what gives me hope and makes me not too sad about the heart murmur thing. I still want to be a part of the marathon experience even if I don't end up running another one. The thought of putting together a new band and playing more races in the future definitely got me going.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Running so conservatively through Brooklyn and Queens meant that when I got to the 59th street bridge I still felt pretty good. First Ave was great of course with the cheering crowds and the road opened up so it didn't feel so packed. Getting to the Bronx was pretty sweet because it meant we were turning back toward the finish. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Fifth avenue was tough because it was so long. Also, a lot of people were reduced to walking at this point. There were so many walkers that at one point they actually blocked the entire width of the road and I had to slow down and squeeze in between people to get through. It was awful.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I also faced the mental block that I had been hitting in the last few half marathons. That last 3 miles is my worst. I know I'm close and that makes me want to stop and I'm not close enough that I feel comfortable picking up the pace because 3 miles is still pretty far. This is what I was feeling as I entered Central Park. I was starting to feel how sore my muscles were particularly on my right side. The rolling hills and the fact that the finish was not in sight made it feel impossible to speed up. It wasn't until the finish was actually in sight that I felt I could pick it up a little.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">As I crossed the finish line the time was the same as my first marathon 2 years ago 5:37:30 (or there about) but I started an hour after the clock started (plus the time it took me to cross the start line) my official time ended up being <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC66;">4:35:51</span></b> (10:31 pace per mile.)</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7ZO_jBN7rpnUwkOyEJJ93Hbf1zk1yxp_MwD92717qGf4eIQyqfQIDAkpV1yMKnPGPHNO89vfWndDgNPJdm_-6AZcmPjl8RJ_NhI9gNFkx-lkkxG_Y_1kH6JrzqPnMhJMm_-a5g-tuLfn/s320/NYCMarathon_afterB.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539183731100252418" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 177px; height: 206px; " /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">For the first time in long time I decided to get an official post race shot with my medal (I usually skip these in the regular NYRR races.) The look on my face is utter relief and elation. I did not die and I did not feel the least bit dehydrated or injured! However, all the muscles in my legs were screaming as I waddled into the flock of slow moving runners being very gradually herded to our bags and out of the park.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">At this point I saw my friend Jess, which seemed appropriate since she was the person I ran my first and only other marathon with. It was good to re-connect with her after not seeing her in so long.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">In the end it was overwhelmingly a positive experience. I think even on a day when I was not worrying about my heart I probably wouldn't have run a 4 hour marathon. My guess is it would have been closer to 4:20 or maybe 4:15 given all the thick pack, hills, and my lack of experience at this distance. The weather was perfect! You couldn't ask for better!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Now I'm looking forward to perfecting my half marathon and 10K times. I don't want to go through that worry again over the marathon distance. The doctors said it was fine for me to keep running, it was just the distance that was dangerous.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I want to make my contribution to the marathon experience be the music. I can live with that.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-size:13px;"></span></span></p><div><span style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; font-size:medium;"><span style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; font-size:12px;"><div style="word-wrap: break-word; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word;"> <!-- begin Hella Sound 468x60 --><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.hellasound.com/data/ad?s=17349cec-e393-11df-bb0a-c6e5144ae38b&d=468x60"></script><br /><!-- end Hella Sound 468x60 --></div></div></span></span></div><p></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Speaking of which, I have teamed up with </span><a href="http://www.hellasound.com/music/song/strides-choose-to-run/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Hella Sound Premium Running Music</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> and </span><a href="http://prsfitlive.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">PRS Fitness</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> in contributing to a series of running music workouts. The first one is a collaboration between </span><a href="http://linwoodstudios.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Jonathan Jones of Linwood Studios</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> and I called, "</span><a href="http://www.hellasound.com/music/song/strides-choose-to-run/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Strides: Choose to Run</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">." It is a 25 minute, </span><a href="http://www.ladysouthpaw.com/ladysouthpaw.com/Running_Music.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">180 bpm tempo running rock music</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> set that contains a warm up, 6 x 30 sec "stride" intervals with 1 minute recoveries and a cool down. I used it through out my marathon training as a sort of maintenance run between my more intense speed/hill work and the long runs. I found it really helpful.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The thing that differentiates "</span><a href="http://www.hellasound.com/music/song/strides-choose-to-run/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Choose to Run</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">" from other types of running music is that there is a narrative story line through out the work out. I really want to create more pieces like this. It's a different way to relate to a piece of art, by actively moving with it. Plus, you're getting your speed work in. There are more of these in the works. Please try it out and give me feedback on how it goes! You can </span><a href="http://twitter.com/lady_southpaw"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">tweet me @lady_southpaw</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> or join the </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ladysouthpawmusic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Lady Southpaw Running Music Facebook fan page</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> and comment on the wall.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Here's an excerpt we put on Youtube: </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Courier"><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2WdO5s5qMjU?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2WdO5s5qMjU?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"> </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-61642838147163578102010-10-09T18:21:00.020-04:002010-11-03T08:01:11.645-04:00Team in Training--Hamptons Half Marathon 2010 Race Report<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">This past weekend marked my third event with Team in Training (TNT.) This organization, an extension of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, helps train everyday people to become endurance athletes. In addition to getting a complete training program with group practices and nutrition coaching for half marathons, marathons and triathlons, participants raise money toward cancer research and patient support services to help families in their struggles with blood related cancers. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">For me, this organization has been a real gateway into the running community. It took me from being some one who ran on the treadmill for 20 min at the gym or in the park for 3 miles on the weekend, some one who never timed herself, had little idea about pacing and had never run a race, into a marathoner and completely obsessed runner. I first came in contact with the organization in 2008 and trained with them to complete the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco. You can read more about that and <a href="http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/hampton10/esholl" target="_blank">my connection to the cause here</a>. That was also the first time I wrote a "<a href="http://www.ladysouthpaw.com/ladysouthpaw.com/Home.html" target="_blank">running song</a>" as part of my fundraising. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLZZZc35xWA" target="_blank">Here</a> is the youtube video.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Then last year I did a "<a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/12/joe-kleinerman-10k-race-report.html" target="_blank">Fast Track 10K</a>," which was recounted in <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/12/joe-kleinerman-10k-race-report.html" target="_blank">this blog post</a>. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">So far the marathon has not been my favorite racing distance. It's hard to get ready for and the training is very time consuming. However, I knew after completing one that I had to do New York. I've been watching friends do that one too many years in a row. I also wanted to be sure to train right, so I signed up for TNT again as a mentor. This way I didn't have to do as much fundraising and could help others in completing the task.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigyaW_5D7atMrp-tiFTyYuD8HrSSLNQ9A-gxL3cgH6budY83Lw57CODv-0uYdm_ysSUATzB1_NMma_ie7bRo4XO-7UgH4JvFO8JyCvVIgyP4YcD0wjsZvjPvPin2ldnwu9SWmWZrelkqb4/s320/HamptonMarathonLogo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526184145869942434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 143px; " /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">As a mentor I was assigned to the <a href="http://www.hamptonsmarathon.com/" target="_blank">Hamptons Half & Full Marathon</a> as my official event. I am guessing it was because I already had guaranteed entry into the New York Marathon so they gave those spots to the people who needed TNT to secure their registration. Doing the Hamptons Half as a preparation race for NY works out well because it's just over a month before the big race and it's not too far to travel.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I got lucky because my sweetie A.H. used to work out in the Hamptons so he knew some one we could stay with for free. It was a fun weekend.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">When we first got out there the weather was miserable! It was cold and rainy. I got A. to do a quick 20 min jog with me, our first run together ever (I'm trying to convert him) and I started wondering about whether that purple singlet was going to be adequate given the weather. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Glory, glory Hallelujah! The weather the next morning felt like nothing short of a miracle! It was gloriously sunny and crisp, the perfect conditions for a race. We rolled in with just enough time to make it through the porta-potty line. I didn't have time to get cold because no sooner had I found my mentee <a href="http://kenwheaton.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Ken, author</a> and pacing buddy, in the corral than the gun went off. My adrenaline was pumping and soon I talking Ken's ear off about complete drivel. At that point I decided it would be better for both of us if I broke off and let him have his own race. I figured it would be a matter of time before he passed me as our history showed; I liked to take off faster only to have him catch me about two thirds into the race. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">My plan was to run the first 5 miles in an 8:40-9:00 mile/min pace window, run the second 5 miles in 8:30-8:50 min pace window and do the last 3.1 miles all out. My <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2010/05/brooklyn-half-marathon-2010-race-report.html" target="_blank">PR race</a> was a 1:57:09 at a 8:56 pace so I figured as long as I was doing sub 9 minute miles I would probably PR. Still, it took me a year of running half marathons and chipping a couple minutes off at a time to get down to that so I was a little nervous about sustaining the new pace for that long. I blew it in 5 miles by coming in a minute plus faster than the bottom of the pace window, but I felt great so I didn't worry too much about it. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkeJuCFUPUgy5WaXDUWORLpYaEqALa9tVGl0fwablf0T7SJB_lfUng76ZjS6co-xklBhj-AB5dBT6Nb1rTnlnXhTX66aIlj3oJkFwRVGmrb0xUc1RHWJl82bM5QkvhDujZHryGX0FDSuM/s320/dirtroad.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526186522703499186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The course was beautiful. We went by fields and through woods. There was even a stretch on a dirt road. A couple weeks before I had the opportunity to do the "<a href="http://nh.rtbrelay.com/" target="_blank">Reach the Beach</a>" relay with some TNT team mates in New Hampshire. That terrain was the perfect preparation for the Hamptons race. That experience also changed my mindset a lot about how hard and fast I could push myself in race conditions. I did all my relay legs in around at or near and 8 min mile pace and felt pretty good about it. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to put together a good blog post about that experience but our captain <a href="http://runjoelrun.wordpress.com/2010/09/27/rtb2010/" target="_blank">Joel</a> wrote a great one that can be found <a href="http://runjoelrun.wordpress.com/2010/09/27/rtb2010/" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">As I came into the 10 mile mark I noted that I was no longer below my pace window but still safely inside of it. I was starting to think about speeding up when Ken came trotting up behind me. I was surprised I hadn't seen him before this point and tried for awhile to keep up with him as part of my speed increase. Unfortunately he lost me before we had run a mile together. Miles 11 and 12 were very scenic as they took us along the harbor with a nice view of water and troupe of girls scouts all very eager to give us water and gatorade.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">When I hit mile 13 I could have sworn the clock read 1:43 something. This got me excited because I thought there maybe a chance of coming in near 1:50 for my total time. The previous weekend I had done the NYRR 5th Ave mile race with a time of 6:31. I thought if I could pick it up maybe I could at least whip out one sub 8 min mile. I made my best effort to pick up the pace but weirdly I felt like I was running slower. It was unfortunately up hill toward the end. Also, there was that extra .1 of a mile. Anyway, maybe I was wrong because I'm sure it was still sub 10 min....</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mof0z54uXAWyBsds_A_FUrqhrM3kY_9wRqHXWvwtbsAFavveS_M_PPdGQhfidQe_-za3kXnbIryqsGbnxEHPrnMRtLTqJAYN4EpywjKqYPVeoT4pHiv1StxdvUJQNn5Iao7i51LiMUUj/s200/Hamptons_finish.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526185727502321874" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 176px; height: 200px; " /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><b>Final Time</b>:</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">1:53:34 - 8:43 pace - PR by 3:35 minutes!</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Overall, I felt strong for the majority of the race, only the last couple of miles sucked because I tried to push the speed. I'm going to take this as a sign of more PRs to come. I wasn't sure once I got sub 2 hours that I would chip away at it much farther, but now that seems more plausible. It's also got me thinking about a sub 4 hour marathon, but we'll see about that in month.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The thing about being a mentor is that your job isn't done once you cross the finish line. I chatted with some of my faster mentees to see how their races went. Then I went back out onto the course to cheer on some of the slower mentees and the marathoners who were still racing. This is the moment that makes doing all the extra paperwork and weekly emails required for being a mentor pay off. It's really rewarding watching some one who probably never thought they could be a runner cross the finish line of a half marathon or marathon. Being a part of a team makes the whole experience extra fulfilling because there are coaches, mentors and team mates cheering you all along the course. There were lots of good feelings to go around that day, it was definitely a success.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">If you are interested in learning more about or supporting this organization I encourage you to check out the website by <a href="http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/hampton10/esholl">clicking here</a>. Even though the fall season is coming to a close it's never too late to donate. Also there are plenty of slots open for future events! Thank you to anyone reading this who already took the time to donate. Your generosity plays an important role in making so many good things happen! You are the reason that this organization can continue to make people healthier.</span></p><p></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">On a completely unrelated note, <a href="http://www.ladysouthpaw.com/ladysouthpaw.com/Home.html" target="_blank">Lady Southpaw Music</a> got a mention on the <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/comfort-cravings/201010/7-helpful-ways-cope-feeling-fat" target="_blank">Psychology Today blog</a> this past week. Give it a <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/comfort-cravings/201010/7-helpful-ways-cope-feeling-fat" target="_blank">click here.</a> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Keep on Running and Rocking everybody!</span></p>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-66654280799331330332010-07-23T17:44:00.022-04:002010-07-23T18:54:31.016-04:00NY Mini Race Performance and Meeting Meb<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The </span></span><a href="http://nyrr.org/races/2010/mini/raceinfo.asp" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">NYRR New York Mini 10K</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> race was well over a month ago now and it just hit me that I didn't wrap it up with a performance report!</span></span></span></div> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I had a phenomenal time. The </span><a href="http://nyrr.org/races/2010/mini/raceinfo.asp" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">New York Road Runners Club</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> is known for there large and well organized events and the entertainment portion was no exception. The sound crew was awesome and everything went off without a hitch. I played a few songs before the race and a set after the race and right before the awards ceremony. Some one even came up to request one of my pre-show songs again which was super cool.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Thanks to the wonders of twitter I had been able to recognize a nyrr photographer who had been tweeting that he was covering the show. As a result I was able to get the pics he took of me onstage immediately after the show. All he asked was that I give him photo credit. So here are a few master shots taken by </span><a href="http://michaelchadwickphotography.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Michael Chadwick</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">. If you happen to be </span><a href="http://michaelchadwickphotography.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">looking for a photographer check out his website</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> or follow him on twitter </span><a href="https://twitter.com/ChadwickPhotog" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">@ChadwickPhotog</span></a></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSpzuz2i2g1Bj4Lw5vrQlOMP8_sTUrtgZl5GEKujcyr7T-7IMUjxcWuXjPPEc6UAlhuzvIELaCm4htxRna7KIcZeerd7DVl40um39IPcnA_BKCt2LPVGpadbwTnLYgbXiZBs6aPJhkuah/s1600/KaraGoucherMini10K.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JdNRVpLjeYpJ8iQtqHeXvgEKD_NHUjZ9tqDF0Mr8FKrd_bZXZmqlzM3t7bdDojs2_luFsd5rSvpw19TxUnOSa95iSSrfpOYnib-jLnpNh2RzuJSgApqSBroctEXLcyZrc8-RwSkf4uA1/s1600/mc-2010mini10k-462.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JdNRVpLjeYpJ8iQtqHeXvgEKD_NHUjZ9tqDF0Mr8FKrd_bZXZmqlzM3t7bdDojs2_luFsd5rSvpw19TxUnOSa95iSSrfpOYnib-jLnpNh2RzuJSgApqSBroctEXLcyZrc8-RwSkf4uA1/s320/mc-2010mini10k-462.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497231938254641138" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BiCC09E8B5m7oXPHTkMqfels4kpVd_9o9CaPiohA7lC3M3pWlL8x3QCsqmvr6oQit_eSuGpg1r6GTOul2x4tRPZolf80x_bvV5FlkQC6vj7O7PhtYvL0rWUFfdtSQ8nDyyl92walyD3P/s1600/mc-2010mini10k-461.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BiCC09E8B5m7oXPHTkMqfels4kpVd_9o9CaPiohA7lC3M3pWlL8x3QCsqmvr6oQit_eSuGpg1r6GTOul2x4tRPZolf80x_bvV5FlkQC6vj7O7PhtYvL0rWUFfdtSQ8nDyyl92walyD3P/s320/mc-2010mini10k-461.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497231934661934002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56cKERTm91x2c78RV5gXvoAYYeU3hcTl3sKsns0AJ_DhI1NgpfaiLqcR60TJo_wxyy6c9xJzrsFfBjCT1wx0r-d6JVnIR8aDKYvRKcBiOyE6yJWxzdH3Im2jaqX-cV8wQ9OZlUlAULYDp/s1600/mc-2010mini10k-453.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56cKERTm91x2c78RV5gXvoAYYeU3hcTl3sKsns0AJ_DhI1NgpfaiLqcR60TJo_wxyy6c9xJzrsFfBjCT1wx0r-d6JVnIR8aDKYvRKcBiOyE6yJWxzdH3Im2jaqX-cV8wQ9OZlUlAULYDp/s320/mc-2010mini10k-453.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497231929642765410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a></span></span><p></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I was happy to see several other of my tweeps there. Before the show I saw </span><a href="https://twitter.com/AshmoeNY" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">@Ashmoe</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> of </span><a href="http://www.hashnyc.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" target="_blank" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">HashNYC.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> and </span><a href="http://nycruns.com/index.php" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">nycruns.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> fame. I also managed to play the <a href="http://www.remanents.com/blog/bold-pace-music" target="_blank">BoldPaceMusic</a> blog's pick for running song of the week last week, "<a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/05/speed-interval-work-out-running-song-3.html" target="_blank">Engineering Masterpiece,</a>" while </span><a href="https://twitter.com/BklynRunner" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">@BklynRunner</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> was in earshot (which was a song she had personally requested.) After the show I saw </span><a href="https://twitter.com/herroyaltallnes" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">@herroyaltallnes</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> jamming out and snapping pics. I officially met </span><a href="https://twitter.com/Running_Fox" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">@Running_Fox</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> for the first time and </span><a href="https://twitter.com/SpeedySasquatch" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">@SpeedySasquatch</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> even stopped by. I recognized a few other people from facebook as well. Special thanks to my sweetie </span><a href="https://twitter.com/Hickey462" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">@Hickey462</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> for playing roadie and toting my gear around (the parking was quite a feat as well.)</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">As I was leaving I found myself a few feet from one of my running heros, and let's face it the hero of many female runners of our generation, Kara Goucher! I was too shy and in too much of a hurry to stand in the line of adoring fans but I did snap a quick camera phone shot as I walked by.</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSpzuz2i2g1Bj4Lw5vrQlOMP8_sTUrtgZl5GEKujcyr7T-7IMUjxcWuXjPPEc6UAlhuzvIELaCm4htxRna7KIcZeerd7DVl40um39IPcnA_BKCt2LPVGpadbwTnLYgbXiZBs6aPJhkuah/s320/KaraGoucherMini10K.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497231941051191394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 266px; " /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Speaking of running celebrities in my "I intended to blog about this a long time ago," vault.... Check out this great autograph I got from last year's ING New York City Marathon winner Meb Keflezighi! I got it while attending a </span><a href="http://nycruns.com/index.php" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">nycruns.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> sponsored </span><a href="http://www.footlocker.com/promotion/microsite:run-footlocker/promoId:5002650/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">event at the Run Footlocker store</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> on Union Square back in April. I decided it would mean more to me to have him sign my Runner's World to Lady Southpaw and tried desperately to explain my concept as quickly as possible (as there was a long line fans waiting.) He actually humored me with his very sweet message of "To: Lady Southpaw, Best wishes & Thank you for writing songs to Runners. Run to Win, Meb." This one is definitely going into a frame to be hung in my "music studio" (AKA bedroom.)</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLo4s3t5xHRkDTe2j-RZK2720j7Ke75zr-KOqPgSkEu92WU1PyLEryBL9LSYHLnxqOaCpdvLr44jXX3nry_u5SE5KYXskU4tHwSwae0UNWgBjRZtwydaxtRvB0fAwVHQEAkqUfu0R7BKGA/s400/RWMebAutograph2010.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497232760971867650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 299px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-87995048363970400162010-06-10T12:15:00.015-04:002010-06-11T16:25:04.336-04:00Running Music Performances at Races<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcvxxS5VUfhJBTehgTXJfaqt9a9aT8RfVitl1bShu9i6dzRmtwhcV6C5oZVLEjRmFG8qRNqE2k6TVZDIEDL7bPGIoaiKT5WJWPE3q6jRZJwaIwR4FYdiUyaRreaNcBBsnY4gqT51NV5-V/s1600/jersey+shore+runapalooza+lady+southpaw.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">If you are going to be anywhere near </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Central Park this Saturday June 12</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> please stop by the </span></span><a href="http://nyrr.org/races/2010/mini/raceinfo.asp" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">NYRR Women's Mini 10K</span></span></b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> There will be a </span></span><b><a href="http://nyrr.org/races/2010/mini/raceinfo.asp" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Lady Southpaw</span></span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> performance before and after this event around 8 and 9:40 am respectively. It should be pretty exciting as two of my </span></span><a href="http://www.nyrr.org/races/2010/mini/story2.asp" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">heroes Kara Goucher and Paula Radcliffe</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> will be running but not racing because they are both pregnant. How BadAss is that?</span></span></span></div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6buiPrTZk6V3GHkWiWW7TtmqkmYiQ9CTVe1qNnDQQF_C2IhjuJhQbd65soXu3Nz5tP_Tj5RBO9L9yE5aOwH-L6SL74Qi7RsRz1P32Uk-0Y5wCgnos1fVlgNiI5omrKjYpw5yR1YGC9d9x/s400/Ladysouthpaw_NYChalf2010_wave.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481189259412178338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">2010 has been a pretty good year for </span><a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/search/label/music%20at%20races" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Lady Southpaw running rock performances at races</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">. It was more than a year ago now that I was </span><a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/05/racing-rock-street-performance.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">musing about that as one of my goals</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">To kickoff the year, in January I played after a <a href="http://www.hashnyc.com/" target="_blank">hash</a>.</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">In February I performed after the </span><a href="http://brrc.wordpress.com/2010/02/15/valentines-day-5k-results-and-photos/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Valentines Day 5K</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> with the </span><a href="http://www.brooklynroadrunners.org/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Brooklyn Road Runners Club</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> thanks to support from </span><a href="http://www.nycruns.com/nycrunners.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">NYCRuns.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> (which included helping me duct tape my mic to a </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_truck" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">hand truck</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> when I forgot my mic stand, very smooth.)</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">In March I </span><a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2010/03/nyc-half-marathon-2010-performance.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">rocked mile 11 of the NYC Half Marathon</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> with </span><a href="http://nyrr.org/races/2010/nychalf/entertainment.asp" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">New York Road Runners Club</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> (scroll down to the bottom of the </span><a href="http://nyrr.org/races/2010/nychalf/entertainment.asp" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">entertainment page to see a Lady Southpaw link</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> on youtube.)</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">April took me to the Asbury Park for the </span><a href="http://www.jerseyshorerelay.org/index.php" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Jersey Shore RunAPalooza Half Marathon & Marathon Relay</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">. </span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcvxxS5VUfhJBTehgTXJfaqt9a9aT8RfVitl1bShu9i6dzRmtwhcV6C5oZVLEjRmFG8qRNqE2k6TVZDIEDL7bPGIoaiKT5WJWPE3q6jRZJwaIwR4FYdiUyaRreaNcBBsnY4gqT51NV5-V/s320/jersey+shore+runapalooza+lady+southpaw.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481189631836184418" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">A group of us representing NYCRuns.com went down and had a great time. This was a big first for me because they had me sing the National Anthem before the race. The only picture I have from that event is of my back, and the backs of all the racers as we gaze lovingly at the flag on top of the </span><a href="http://apboardwalk.com/venues/view/39" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Asbury Park Convention Hall</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">. I got to play inside the hall during the expo which was pretty cool considering big acts like Bruce Springstein and the Rolling Stones have all played there. It was a bit funny with just me and my one little amp; can anyone say reverb? That place is like a huge echo chamber but a kick-ass experience nonetheless.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Have I mentioned that </span><a href="http://www.nycruns.com/nycrunners.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">NYCRuns.com is a great resource for all things running in the New York area</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">? This includes a </span><a href="http://www.nycruns.com/find-a-race.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">race calendar</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">, </span><a href="http://www.nycruns.com/find-a-group.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">local running clubs</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">, </span><a href="http://www.nycruns.com/running-partners.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">partner finder</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">, and </span><a href="http://www.nycruns.com/blogs/links.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">the best running bloggers in NYC</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Again, if you are in the Central Park area this Saturday, please <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">please</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">please</span> come support!!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">If I had to make a goal for next year, it would be to get a full band together.... Sooooo.... if you happen to know any musicians who are running-inclined pleeeaaase send them my way lovelies.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Thank you. That is all.</span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:12px;"><br /></span></span></div>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-55409483885094750762010-05-26T10:26:00.012-04:002010-05-26T11:33:59.272-04:00Brooklyn Half Marathon 2010 - Race Report<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSn7MbFyb-Nqh480HXALWlpg9NKlnseDM4Ll9Hmv0x19KWuSxq1FzyxjpOrfflJoTWKKoBwNSbO2JY7IOrFaIcrs7fGQxT84tHRP3nhWbKgKK-GtFCwcF-JxaQbqtIeB5uUOP4nqC0qU-J/s1600/ErinSholl_SIHalf2.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1tKYlWL5uybRPiZyZx171hyE7EQXOkJdiVZrwSC7MSUA6b6J1paggPw2uHIdjdMNgZbKmZu89xq9hDESP-HhyphenhyphencZ6HhpZKw52EHWOG3h0x7Zkr9nPcG7Fr56pNwhN2DCNzWHcJi6TeS2y/s1600/BKHalf_Coney.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1tKYlWL5uybRPiZyZx171hyE7EQXOkJdiVZrwSC7MSUA6b6J1paggPw2uHIdjdMNgZbKmZu89xq9hDESP-HhyphenhyphencZ6HhpZKw52EHWOG3h0x7Zkr9nPcG7Fr56pNwhN2DCNzWHcJi6TeS2y/s320/BKHalf_Coney.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475598012258582482" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><br /></span></div>Before sitting down to this race report I had to re-read my <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/06/brooklyn-half-marathon-report.html" target="_blank">Brooklyn Half Marathon Report</a> from 2009. My, how far I have come in the past year of racing. I ran for a long time without even entering a race and now I am starting to recognize them and run the same ones annually.<br /><br />Last year's <a href="http://www.nyrr.org/races/2010/hms/brooklyn_reg.asp" target="_blank">Brooklyn Half</a> was my first official Half Marathon race on record (although I had run the distance in marathon training.) As a result it was a huge eye opener. It was unseasonably hot and humid that day in 2009. I struggled to maintain a 10:30 min/mile pace and by the time I reached the Coney Island boardwalk it felt like one of those dreams where you are trying to run fast but your body doesn't respond, like your wheels are spinning and you are going nowhere.<br /><br />After that day I decided I didn't want to make my goal to just run faster, because that pushing really sucked and I hated every minute of it. Instead, I wanted to make running faster feel easier.<br /><br />When watching fast runners it's always astonishing when they look like they are actually expending less energy than their slower counterparts. This is usually the result of physical conditioning, experience, and technique. Of course natural talent also plays a part, but if your goal is not to win but just to enjoy running, lack of natural talent is a very surmountable issue (I should know as some one who is naturally very snail-like.)<br /><br />After Brooklyn last year, I read up a lot on form, incorporated more hill and speed training, and ran with new groups of runners. I completed 3 other half marathons since that one: <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/08/nyc-half-marathon-report.html" target="_blank">NYC</a>, <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/10/staten-island-half-marathon-race-report.html" target="_blank">Staten Island</a>, and <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2010/02/express-3-race-report.html" target="_blank">Manhattan</a>. Each time I got progressively faster.<br /><br />By the time I reached the start line for the Brooklyn Half 2010, I had <a href="http://twitter.com/lady_southpaw/statuses/14439497762" target="_blank">one goal in mind</a>: to run this half marathon in less than 2 hours! Brooklyn is my favorite borough, my adopted home town of the last 6 and a half years, I had some unfinished business with it after last year's performance in misery. In addition to <a href="http://www.teamsasquatch.com/" target="_blank">weekly speed training</a> I had been using my home turf advantage to do practice runs on different stages of the course. This included sprinting that final boardwalk stretch to mentally prep for the finish line and avoid last year's bad dream. I also did hill repeats in Prospect Park and countless loops to be ready for that stage of the race.<br /><br />The day before the race I did a short tempo run on the treadmill practicing my 9 min/mile race pace. I forgot my iPod and was forced to entertain myself with the sound of my feet against the rubber. Interestingly, it made this chant come into my head. I ended up remembering it during the race. It was an interesting trick that I may use for some <a href="http://www.ladysouthpaw.com/ladysouthpaw.com/Home.html" target="_blank">Lady Southpaw</a> compositions in <a href="http://www.ladysouthpaw.com/ladysouthpaw.com/Running_Music.html" target="_blank">running music</a> down the road...<br /><br />Enough of this running tangent. Here is the breakdown:<br /><br />I woke up early enough but was a bit too leisurely getting my butt out the door. Somehow I managed to get there when they were doing the last call on baggage check. This surprised me because I had deluded myself into thinking I was early. Once I had taken care of that I found myself at the end of a very long porta-potty line. Unfortunately, this stop was not optional, I needed it way too desperately to wait until I was on the course. I also didn't want a porta potty stop to detract any time (as it had when I ran <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2010/02/express-3-race-report.html" target="_blank">Manhattan</a>.) So, I got to the start line after the gun. Being at the back of the pack was very frustrating for the first mile because this race was so full it was hard to get around people. In my head I kept fearing this stupid fact was going to keep me from my goal as my last race was 2:00:23. A few seconds doesn't seem like much until it keeps you from hitting your goal.<br /><br />By the time I got to mile 2 I was more or less up with my pace group, and the time on the clock was right about on target. This was a huge relief. My trip around Prospect Park was pretty uneventful.<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSn7MbFyb-Nqh480HXALWlpg9NKlnseDM4Ll9Hmv0x19KWuSxq1FzyxjpOrfflJoTWKKoBwNSbO2JY7IOrFaIcrs7fGQxT84tHRP3nhWbKgKK-GtFCwcF-JxaQbqtIeB5uUOP4nqC0qU-J/s320/ErinSholl_SIHalf2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475601615294415634" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 161px; height: 195px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I decided to wear the fuel belt. It's annoying and I hate the sight of it in my race pics but not having to wait for fueling stations and not having to drink gatorade is priceless. Last year I didn't wear it and I regretted it, so I've been sporting it for all the other halfs. This was no exception and hydration wise I felt pretty great throughout the race.<br /><br />Ocean Parkway felt endless! That was the one stage of the half I didn't practice I started mentally planning my practice runs to include it next year. It was the only time I felt my pace lag. When I hit 9 miles I saw I had 43 min to make my goal and was projecting that it should only take 36 to run, unfortunately this meant I lost a couple mins on miles 9-12 because I got a little too comfortable. However, once I started nearing the last stretch I picked up some speed.<br /><br />At that point I was so happy because I realized I was living the experience I wanted to have last year. I was challenging my pace and not feeling defeated by it. I was running fast (for me) and still feeling strong.<br /><br />I was beaming as I ran through the finish line because I knew I hit my goal! What a great feeling, knowing that I had worked so hard and it actually affected my performance the way I wanted it to. That may sound funny, but at a time when so much of my life seems out of my control or the outcomes are counter to what I had planned, being able to set a goal and achieve feels really phenomenal.<br /><br />Official Time:<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF9900;">1:57:09 - 8:56 min/mile pace</span></span><br />(up from 2:17:28 in 2009!)</span></div>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-83313908566193024352010-03-21T21:42:00.015-04:002010-06-10T13:08:20.276-04:00NYC Half Marathon 2010 Performance Report<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">First, while I'm blogging I just want to mention I had the opportunity to check out the new </span></span><a href="http://www.footlocker.com/microsite--run-footlocker/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Run by Footlocker</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> store on Union Square devoted to all things running. They decided to have their official grand opening festivities coincide with the NYC Half weekend. It was a convenient hop to the expo from there. The people working this location (14th Street & University) were all very knowledgeable and intent on pulling out all the stops to serve the NY running community.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I even got this cool T-shirt: </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlT0m0ClAvynhK7yxTn8Q6fMKxcWnZLZX0OylypUxFkVbD1eD41XBLzqO0IaLa7hil9uxaPQkXYZV9vkTGNkogbEe-gc11jisyOv6BCkhLH5Z_XDnavwV98Cfve5LoZmPQXjDAGdFGDMTL/s200/runshirt.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451272250027570802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 176px; height: 200px; " /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Now onto the race report. It seems like only 7 months ago since the last </span></span><a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/08/nyc-half-marathon-report.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">NYC Half Marathon</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, oh wait, that's because it was. Having the race in March was a breath of fresh air after last August's sweat fest. It was a crystal clear beautiful day.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I ran this race for the first time </span></span><a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/08/nyc-half-marathon-report.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">last year</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and really enjoyed it. This year it was my goal to play </span></span><a href="http://www.ladysouthpaw.com/ladysouthpaw.com/Running_Music.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">running rock</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> for it. When I arrived at my little station I was downright giddy when I saw the big blue </span></span><a href="http://www.ladysouthpaw.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Lady Southpaw</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> sign. I felt I had conquered the Everest of running organizations, I was playing a <a href="http://nyrr.org/index.asp" target="_blank">New York Road Runners</a> event. It took me awhile to find the right contacts, but once I did I found the organization was very efficient and I really hope to get the opportunity to do more of their events soon.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD91Y0DeM33pR19LtMX0_kaCsWYad_UdUurmQO9NoHZRv1CkmDjoHpMajwCo2WupaajJT5m2l03BtbUwbSEGbhLU8A1uL6mXPgLmN0vz7ThxFXR38PJJN8CnOtVr0PsVg005Dq58yYeQ1v/s320/NYCHalf10_2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451272749352610130" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I got there with plenty of time and leisurely setup all my gear. Last month I had the fiasco of forgetting my mic stand at an event in Brooklyn and I was forced to improvise with some creative use of duct tape (thanks Steve!) This time I had everything all packed up before I went to bed last night and a checklist to look over before I left in the morning. I still managed to forget my sunglasses, but they were optional. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">My spot was on 15th Street and the West Side Highway. I was in the oasis for </span></span><a href="http://nyrr.org/races/2010/nychalf/entertainment.asp" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">entertainment</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> after Time Square and 42nd Street where there is nothing but stimulation and before the "wall of sound" into the finish. Right behind me was a water station, porta-potties and a "</span></span><a href="http://twitpic.com/18x9mq" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">high five station</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">." So in general it was a small point of relief for runners in one of the more difficult parts of the race. They had 11 miles behind them but they were still not done. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It is so interesting to watch a race in its entirety. You really see the bell curve of race paces. It was utterly mind-blowing when the </span></span><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2010-03-21-1426233676_x.htm" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">first guy</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> went sprinting by in under an hour from the start! I was star-struck when I saw Deena Kastor. Then the crowd gradually forms until the street is packed and tapers away again leaving you with those not as genetically gifted or facing a race that didn't go as planned and visibly fighting the pain of it. There is really the full gamut of human emotion from elation, to strong focus, to ease, to battle. It was exciting.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">For about 45 minutes I was completely eating it up. I was having the time of my life, playing my songs and rocking out. I know people could only hear me for a few seconds as they whizzed past, but I really felt connections to many of them. I especially got a kick from the ones who waved or shouted, "I saw your page on Facebook!" I felt like everything I had been working on so hard was really coming together!</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I got through all the "</span></span><a href="http://www.reverbnation.com/store/view_item_album/artist_379849?item_id=36508" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Songs For Running</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">," playing "</span></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13CcWPJfQjo&feature=player_embedded" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Engineering Masterpiece</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">," more than once and a couple of covers. Then halfway through my cover of the Cranberries song "Zombie," the sound just cut out! I couldn't believe it. I had my power source charging the entire night. When I checked it, it still showed that it had power. I think maybe it was just shorting out or over heating or something? I turned everything off and turned it on again. It worked for a little bit but then the same thing happened again. That pretty much sums up the rest of my experience. I would turn it off, leave it for a couple minutes then turn it on again, with the sound on lower or playing a less intense song or something. Then, inevitably, it would cut out again after a couple minutes. Sometimes I could make it through a whole song, but most the time only half of one.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So far I have only used this power source for much shorter events. I don't think it had ever been on that long without a break. In the future I think I will break it up into shorter sets and see if that helps. I really don't want to have to buy another one at this point because those things are expensive and this one is so portable! I will probably do some research into and see if there is anything more I can do about it.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It was unfortunate that a large portion of the mid pack missed out on my playing anything. I joined the High Five Station briefly while I let the generator rest. That was super fun too. At some point I just figured f* it and played some of the more straight rhythmic songs without any amplification. Considering that the runners don't get to hear that much of the song anyway, not having sound didn't seem to make that much of a difference. It was a much better vibe when I was trying to sing then just standing there disappointed, looking like I was leaving them dry with the music. Of course I probably looked a little air-headed, as if I didn't realize there was no sound coming out of my amp. Oh well, you live you learn. I still really want to do this again and keep improving on the process!</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lIxFqwCvpFsloOAVoeSfr6SJSYwkgYvggq3gCJbTARUx9YA5YPwd_O9_uoVwL7bekMJAULaTUfSHm3BeJ0lCL_Pex7ls3fCzZt4V7fZ8ULjCyiyt4e6eIysLcMy2h0LZsQTaH1bMKGEv/s320/NYCHalf10_1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451273536306381458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></span></div>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-49159404333244754812010-03-18T07:39:00.018-04:002010-06-10T13:08:53.248-04:00Wave to Lady Southpaw on Mile 11 of the NYC Half Marathon<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After much relentless spamming of the <a href="http://nyrr.org/index.asp" target="_blank">New York Road Runners Club</a> I was invited to play at one of their races! I consider this a major achievement. All the details have been coming together in the past week, so I am blogging this with only 3 days until the big event.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This Sunday March 21st, 2010 will be the <a href="http://nyrr.org/races/2010/nychalf/index.asp" target="_blank">NYC Half Marathon</a>. I ran this race last year when it was in August. In <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/08/nyc-half-marathon-report.html" target="_blank">my race report</a> I revelled in all the course musicians and fantasized (or should I say prophesied?) playing the event this year. <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/08/nyc-half-marathon-report.html" target="_blank">Click here</a> if you care to reminisce. I even mentioned my disappointment that there was a big gap in music on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">West Side</span> Highway where you need it this most. So now I am very excited to report I will be playing mile 11 on the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">West Side</span> Highway and 15<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> Street. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Here is my little section on the course map:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 315px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 402px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449945462335036850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4K4LcJYYZB-IZvLn_FbRwDS4bjWmPThO-gwaJGr6nVeSZ2yJYxjwutN3l7ANnjnj_EkyEUcoifWgEd3CPaOzDBmV-7A-hIn6p_KQalxafa5IxNkiXdf4ItvylKGHjqkkcNHRhueFxGI66/s320/NYCHALF_lady_southpaw.JPG" /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'm excited to be playing across from the fluid station being operated by the Hudson Dusters, a team I have r*n with as part of <a href="http://www.hashnyc.com/" target="_blank"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">HashNYC</span>.com</a>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Anyone who has run the NYC Half knows that this stretch of the course is one of the most difficult. As I recall, the loop around Central Park is challenging for it's hills and generally establishing your pace. Then there is a thrilling downhill romp through Times Square where you are so excited to be out of the park and there is so much going on it fills you with energy and excitement. This is all well and good until you hit the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">West Side</span> Highway. The last leg. You feel like you are almost done, but don't be fooled there are still miles to go before you can sleep. I remember assuming I had less than a mile left when I hit the 11 mile mark only to realize I still had 2.1 miles to go. Perhaps I was delirious from the heat, which will not be an issue in March, but that long straight shot to the finish seemed endless. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That's where I come in (well for the fraction of a minute you'll be able to hear me as you pass...) playing my electric guitar and singing to get you pumped up! I will play through all of my "Songs For Running," the E.P. that can be streamed or purchased through <a href="http://www.reverbnation.com/ladysouthpaw" target="_blank"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Reverbnation</span></a> and also available on <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/songs-for-running/id318856431" target="_blank"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">iTunes</span></a>. I will also be playing some of my favorite covers sped up to 180 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">bpm</span>. Selections include songs by artists such as: Blondie, P.J. Harvey, Green Day, Ben <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kweller</span>, and maybe others I can't think of right now. There will be nothing under 160 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">bpm</span>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So if you see me make sure to wave! Or at least smile and nod a little. That won't drain to much energy, in fact it might help.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Check out the full entertainment line-up on the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">NYRR</span> official page:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://nyrr.org/races/2010/nychalf/entertainment.asp" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">http://nyrr.org/races/2010/nychalf/entertainment.asp</span></a>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-59708770792556771962010-02-28T22:49:00.010-05:002010-05-26T11:09:09.679-04:00Express 3 Race Report<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">So far 2010 has been a horrible year for the "Running Rocks" blog! There are so many times I've meant to write something and it hasn't happened. Anyway I wanted to get something out for February 2010. Also, I want to record my races of the past month, therefore, I bring you the "Express 3 Race Report."</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClInspNDM-EjKRkYxMxs3sm8NAxH8dFKuWm94-iFD9xhgzdFGXQ9oypZru9GjOKAZE10_g0dDLtLCfBpvubncYLaOgncPrv7OEpv0Lr4SsjJ-5_aZkBtT7TvcDu5N4JWXkkjiZNf2alu1/s320/Manhattan_half_crp.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443508557338572962" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF9900;">January 24, 2010 - Manhattan Half Marathon (Central Park)</span></b><br /><br />Overall time - 2:00:23 pace/mile - 9:11<br /><br />The gist: My main goal for this race was to go sub 2 hours. Therefore, I wanted to run as close to a 9 min. mile pace as possible throughout. Unfortunately, my GI tract did not cooperate. I may have overdone it on the pre-race nutrition and hydration a bit. I was desperate to go the bathroom as soon as I got off the train, then again right before the race start, so it shouldn't have surprised me when I was ready to burst on the course itself. Miles 1-7 went according to plan. Then, mile 8 I got that desperate bursting feeling again. I slowed down drastically and with the Harlem hill on the horizon I was afraid I wouldn't make it if I didn't find a latrine. In the situation I think it was the right decision because I would have continued to slow down and been extremely uncomfortable had I not stopped. However, it's tough to look at that time without thinking if I could just deduct the time it took me to make the extra pit stop I would have my goal. Onto the 2010 Brooklyn Half, I have some unfinished business with that race. That will be a great place to hit my goal!<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF9900;">February 21, 2010 - Cherry Tree 10 miler (Prospect Park)</span></b><br /><br />Overall time - 1:27:37 pace/mile - 8:46<br /><br />The gist: I was really happy with this time! I ran around lot before the race between the number pickup, the NYSC where I dropped off my stuff and the start (which I overshot by nearly a half mile and had to run back, the PPTC start line was not as obvious as the NYRR corrals...) I feel confident had it been a Half Marathon I could have hit the sub 2 hour goal. This time I really didn't make a lot of effort to do everything right: I didn't get the right amount of sleep and I didn't think much about race nutrition (no gu's or electrolyte beverages on route) yet during and afterword I felt awesome. The only problem was I ended up feeling pretty beat up the next day. My ankle that has been acting up on and off this year felt pretty stiff for the rest of week.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF9900;">February 28, 2010 - Al Gordon Snowflake 4 miler (Prospect Park)</span></b><br /><br />Overall time - 32:29 pace/mile - 8:07<br /><br />The gist: Great race! This is a PB for my fastest race pace ever!! I think it really helped that I ran the same loop three times last week in the Cherry Tree 10 miler. It made this one seem like a breeze. My ankle was a bit stiff in the beginning. The thing I found in the first mile was that it actually hurt more if I went slow and less the faster I went (good incentive to speed up!) Also this race started with the big "North Hill," which meant a lot of the people directly around me slowed way down and I couldn't stand it. So, knowing the course as well as I do, I knew that I could take the hill relatively fast without sabotaging myself later (especially knowing we'd only do it once!) As a result I sped around the outside and passed a ton of people going up the hill (thanks to Coach Sasquatch and his killer hill repeats!) Then when I got to a faster paced group I settled back into the pack. I also knew mile 3 would be mostly downhill and used that to my advantage. Mile 4 I felt like throwing up a little, but managed to pull myself together going up the last hill on Center drive into the finish line. I was singing the words to my song "Engineering Masterpiece" in my head and it really helped a lot for the final push.<br /><br />Al Gordon is actually the first race that I've run two years in a row. It's a bit disappointing that it went from being a 5K to a 4 miler this year because I really wanted to set a new 5K PR and also it makes it harder to compare the times but the improvement is clear:<br /><br />2009 Al Gordon 5K Overall time - 28:54 pace/mile - 9:19<br /><br />Overall I have made a lot of progress this year. I wish I could say it was all because of the new music I've been working on. In a way it is because it has inspired me to do a lot of extra research into running and testing of what works and doesn't. As a result I have added a lot more "quality running" work outs (tempo, intervals and hills) and have tweaked my biomechanics. Going from a heal to a mid/fore-foot strike has helped me get faster. Unfortunately, it has also assisted me in getting my first running related injury- the ankle thing. I have a theory on where I went wrong there that maybe the subject of a future post.<br /><br /><i>2009 Brooklyn Half Stats - Overall time - 2:17:28 pace/mile - 10:29<br /><br />Brooklyn Half Marathon 2010 - You will be toast!</i><i>!</i></span> </div>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-69902091102923469932010-01-27T09:49:00.006-05:002010-01-27T10:04:09.522-05:00Music and Motivation<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I was running the Manhattan Half Marathon on Sunday and as usual, at some point my mind started turning to what I would put it in the race report. Then, a sad fact occurred to me: I had not put up a single post in the month of January! This is a first in "Running Rocks" history! Well, it's not too late, so here we are in the last week of January with a post. My work life and personal life is undergoing some transition at the moment, which has thrown me off on my Lady Southpaw stuff. It's upsetting to me because I wish Lady Southpaw Music was my work life, but unfortunately things are not so simple at this stage.<br /><br />ANYWAY, I'll probably put together my race report this weekend. However, I wanted to get a quick post up this morning before January has completely slipped through my fingers.<br /><br />The people at <a href="http://www.AudioFuel.co.uk/" target="_blank">AudioFuel</a>, a running music project in London, have alerted me to a very cool program they are sponsoring. <a href="http://www.AudioFuel.co.uk/" target="_blank" >AudioFuel</a> has teamed up with the <a href="http://www.virginlondonmarathon.com/" target="_blank">Virgin London Marathon</a> to bring us the website <a href="http://www.musicandmotivation.com/" target="_blank">musicandmotivation.com</a>. On the website you can get athlete's running playlists, free <a href="http://www.AudioFuel.co.uk/" target="_blank">AudioFuel</a> tracks, an interesting pdf on running psychology (which includes the benefits of using music) and the Monthly Motivation newsletter. It's free, I signed up and downloaded it all and they haven't been spamming me, so it's all good.<br /><br />The main thing I want to alert you to is their call for running music. Go to this link to nominate good running songs:<br /><a href="http://www.musicandmotivation.com/motivating_run/top/10.html" target="_blank">http://www.musicandmotivation.com/motivating_run/top/10.html</a><br /><br />Every month until the London marathon they are going to publish an official training iMix with people's picks for their favorite running music. I just looked and the Lady Southpaw track "Engineering Masterpiece" is already in the running for January! I encourage you to go in there and add your vote. Of course you can also add whatever else you want after that. As far as I can tell you can write in whatever you want. Although, in order to be published in an iMix, it probably has to be on iTunes already (which, luckily, "Engineering Masterpiece" is published on iTunes!)<br /><br />Thanks! Keep running and rocking in 2010 everybody!</span>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-66596160277731446922009-12-24T18:08:00.004-05:002009-12-24T18:12:38.922-05:00Running as Art<p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The other day I got thinking about how running is like art. I recently read the </span><a href="http://www.posetech.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Pose Method of Running</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> and it really appealed to me because it structured running technique like mastering an art (dance especially.) I’m still experimenting with “Pose Method” running, but the technical side is another topic for another day. Instead, I am thinking about how running and the creative process share a lot in common. I’ve mentioned it before, but I love to focus on form. Like dance, Pilates and yoga often have you trying to construct an ideal pose with your body. So, in the same way running can be a performance in perfect form. My theory is that if biomechanically I can run as smoothly and efficiently as possible while emulating those who are really talented, it will make it easier to run faster and longer. Ideally, rather than killing myself to run faster I would like to make running faster feel more comfortable and as seemingly effortless as possible.<br /><br />Of course in a sport like running this is only part of the beast. I don’t mean to downplay the importance of real quality running exercises like speed intervals and hill repeats—those are essential in improving cardio endurance. They also produce very tangible results when it comes to feeling more comfortable while running. The idea of running as a performance is more about the mental attack strategy. <br /><br />I like to have the image of a champion in mind. Imagination is a very useful tool in running. It helps when you can delude yourself a little into thinking that you are performing spectacularly no matter what those horrible race photos show.<br /><br />My mother is not a runner. Recently she was telling me about her attempts at running and it was easy to spot why she hated it without seeing her run. First of all she referenced how “all the pounding,” took its toll. Maybe this is something you get used to, but for the most part it sounds like evidence of a heavy untrained stride. Just having the image in mind of a light gentle stride could be a good way to start mentally training.<br /><br />Also, the other interesting thing she said was that as she was running she imagined sports announcers commenting on her performances and saying things like “Oh man, she is really struggling! She is not doing well at this at all!”<br /><br />This is very similar to the “</span><a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creating-in-flow/200810/you-create-pacify-your-inner-critic"target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">inner critic</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">” that is sometimes talked about when trying to craft a work of art. Often the thing that holds you back from creating something that is really great is that voice in your head that tells you it’s no good. The truth is that most ideas are pretty weak when you first have them, there’s a process of things that happen before something becomes really good. Therefore you have to be forgiving of those early incarnations of an idea and just roll with them until you unearth their true potential. In essence you have to create this image or fiction first of what it is you are trying to do that is really great. Then you have to work your ass off to live up to it.<br /><br />So basically, when you are just starting your run you have to imagine those sports announcers saying positive things. For example, “She’s really putting her heart out there under these difficult conditions.” Or “for some one who hasn’t run in several years she is performing at the top of her division.”<br /><br />You may call it self delusion but a little of that is necessary to grease the wheels. <br /><br />Then the next step is to have some clear goals that you are trying to achieve. Qualifying for the Olympics or writing the Grammy award winning song of the year may be a bit lofty. However, you can say today I want to run and not feel too much tension in my shoulders or get through the whole thing without walking. Those things are attainable. As you improve your goals will be higher, but it is important to know where you are and what you can do.<br /><br />The last thing is to take that small goal and knock it out of the park. You can become a master of running for long periods of time without stopping or releasing tension in your upper body. You push yourself to make those periods even longer.<br /><br />Virtuosity is the ideal of art. To become so good at something that people marvel in the beauty of it. The wonderfully open-ended thing about it is that sometimes you can be brilliant at something that is simple: like having a pure singing tone or writing a lyric that really resonates. It doesn’t have to be a grand unattainable thing.<br /><br />That can also be the goal of a good run. That it is a performance to be marveled at. In a professional sense this would mean a world record time. For a normal person it could mean getting in 5 miles when you were so tired you thought you’d only be able to pull off 3. Or maintaining perfect form and not having pain after the run. You can define the goal and then when you nail it you get the euphoria of accomplishment.<br /><br />That is the essence of a beautiful piece of art and a beautiful run.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">P.S. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!</span></p>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-54260132419429906382009-12-10T16:23:00.009-05:002009-12-10T17:05:40.286-05:00Joe Kleinerman 10K Race Report<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5t7gYkeqkHiRKo4p_ps8N9BgisiXhqi4LcNcqQm52SHbaQBMglMlb4sIYhEK4iL4mNd2kYAfBr6Uuvj0dxUr7bKhwsn9398X2Q8zOK2nFhjf7kxGzOp83ihx_-RKxgHD_k9bwmw2cZStw/s1600-h/team+in+training.jpg" target="_blank"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I had a great race this past Sunday! It was the second event that I participated in as part of <a href="http://www.teamintraining.org/" target="_blank">Team in Training (TNT)</a>. They call it the "<a href="http://www.teamintraining.org/chapter/nyc/doc/fasttrackpacket" target="_blank">Fast Track 10K</a>." If you don't already know about TNT, it is definitely an organization worth supporting in some way. They help people train for endurance events (usually triathlons, marathons and half marathons) while raising money for cancer research and patient services. It is specifically for blood cancers like Leukemia and Hodgkins Lymphoma but because of the nature of blood cancer the research is helpful for learning about all forms of cancer. I first got involved with TNT in 2008 when my aunt was fighting breast cancer and my grandmother (also a breast cancer surviver) was just diagnosed with Chronic Leukemia. Thank God, they are both doing well now.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5t7gYkeqkHiRKo4p_ps8N9BgisiXhqi4LcNcqQm52SHbaQBMglMlb4sIYhEK4iL4mNd2kYAfBr6Uuvj0dxUr7bKhwsn9398X2Q8zOK2nFhjf7kxGzOp83ihx_-RKxgHD_k9bwmw2cZStw/s320/team+in+training.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413731049079572050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 219px; " /></span><br />The people are so nice and I really enjoyed the camaraderie of a common cause. In 2008 I ran the <a href="http://inside.nike.com/blogs/nikerunning_events-en_US/?tags=nike_womens_marathon" target="_blank">San Francisco Nike Women's Marathon</a>. Here is a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLZZZc35xWA" target="_blank">video of a song</a> I wrote for my fundraising. It was a great experience so I was really happy when one of the coaches, <a href="http://www.pace4success.com/" target="_blank">Jasmine Graham of Pace For Success</a>, contacted me about mentoring for the Fast Track Program this year. This was my first time being a mentor and I was really thrilled to watch my mentees cross the finish line. It was a new kind of satisfaction. Now, I want to do it all again and be a mentor for New York 2010! I am psyched!<br /><br />So, onto the race itself. I had some definite time goals. After doing a few half marathons this <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/06/brooklyn-half-marathon-report.html" target="_blank">spring</a>, <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/08/nyc-half-marathon-report.html" target="_blank">summer</a> and <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/10/staten-island-half-marathon-race-report.html" target="_blank">fall</a> I had increased my fitness level and felt it was time to take my 10K time up a notch. So far I had been unable to get my New York Road Runner's bib pace below the 9 minute mile despite sub 9 minute performances in <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/09/chris-hoban-memorial-5-mile-run-race.html" target="_blank">local 5 mile</a> races. I ran the the <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/10/race-report-part-2-regularly-scheduled.html" target="_blank">Nike Human Race</a> with the idea that it would be my "before" time and Joe Kleinerman was my "after" time demonstrating the effectiveness of having the training schedule and a support system of TNT. I was really hoping for a 8:50 min/mile at Nike, but alas, my "before time" ended up being: 57:25 with 9:14 min/mile pace.<br /><br />The first couple miles were rough because the crowd was a lot thicker that I thought it would be and I started too far back in it. I know you are supposed to start conservative but I felt like I was running so slow I was practically going backwards! I managed to do a lot of weaving and zig-zagging in that first couple miles so it didn't hurt me too much. As usual I was completely stupid about time. I didn't bother wearing a watch after the last couple races where I managed to botch up hitting the button every time (I always forget about it at either the start or finish.) This time I was so worried about the crowd I forgot to look at the start time so I never knew how much to deduct. Annoying.<br /><br />The weather was pretty cold but beautiful! Central Park was lit up in all its glory by the sun's rays. The day before had been so rainy everyone at the race was grateful for the sun. Despite making my nose run like a faucet (which was really attractive) the cold didn't effect me much and that was a good thing. I sped up pretty significantly through the middle miles of the race and managed to hold on through the end. Harlem hill was early so I was still weaving through the slow crowd at that point and it didn't impact me too greatly. However, Cat hill was toward the end, so when I got over that I really felt like I was done. Still, I knew I only had 1 to 2 miles to go at that point and I really wanted that PR. I stayed strong through the end with the purple TNT crowd cheering me on at the finish line (another definite perk of running with TNT.) I also love it when there's a song I like blasting at the finish, it always makes me ridiculously teary. This time it was "Run" by Ben Kweller, a definite favorite that I like to cover sometimes.<br /><br />So, the time. I knew I had PR'ed but I didn't know by how much. The time on the clock was 56 something. So it was possible I PR'ed with a low 9 minute mile which would have been a bittersweet victory. Again, I was so annoyed that I neglected to look at the start clock. I am going to write it on my hands next time! Look at the start clock dammit! It wasn't until I got home and looked it up on the nyrr results page that I got my time:<br /><br />Finish Time - 53:12 Pace/Mile - 8:34<br /><br />HURRAY!! I was walking on clouds the rest of the day.</span><br /></div>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-8116021821103468542009-12-04T12:47:00.013-05:002009-12-04T14:27:10.740-05:00One Month to a New Decade<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOn4ergAge8m3g-iLE7ZrRYRl7MLZNLyFGQZeGrVaNYVA9nJp8XG4UIt1N9Eeur8fho5n4bIxMKspjBEnMZxj1Fajpvm9Qr0CpHFY2Jmyq9jhpXMeBksJopj_IiOHorFubqnIxFBKIbGw/s1600-h/runningtwitter.jpg"></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I can't believe it's already December. Actually, it is now December 4th, exactly a month from my dreaded birthday, sigh. Hopefully, I will have an announcement regarding some sort of birthday run/performance very soon (because how else would I want to spend my birthday but by running and playing music?) </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Anyway, so far December has started off pretty well. On the first I was fortunate to participate in the first ever NYC "runners' tweet-up" (that I know of anyway.) I know a few twitter haters who don't see the point of it, but I have found so many like-minded, awesome people through twitter it's pretty unbelievable. To those who don't like or don't get it, the secret is that it's all about who you follow. Yes, it would be great to get thousands of followers but to have a good experience first you have to find smart people to follow so you have good quality news feed. You can also follow some good lists, that's a new way to do it. </span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOn4ergAge8m3g-iLE7ZrRYRl7MLZNLyFGQZeGrVaNYVA9nJp8XG4UIt1N9Eeur8fho5n4bIxMKspjBEnMZxj1Fajpvm9Qr0CpHFY2Jmyq9jhpXMeBksJopj_IiOHorFubqnIxFBKIbGw/s320/runningtwitter.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411458246386370770" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 253px; " /></span><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The tweet-up was so much fun! There was such a talented group of runners at first I was intimidated by the talk of Boston qualifications, ultra-marathons, and people actually winning races (I didn't know that was possible among mortals.) However, that was easy to get past because everyone was just so gosh-darn nice and cool. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">We met at Bethesda fountain. There was a brief handshake and stating of names and twitter aliases. This included <a href="http://twitter.com/pigtailsflying" target="_blank">pigtailsflying</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/nycbklyngirl" target="_blank">nycbklyngirl</a> who organized it, <a href="http://twitter.com/BklynRunner" target="_blank">BrklnRunner</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/runanskyrun" target="_blank">runanskyrun</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/SpeedySasquatch" target="_blank">SpeedySasquatch</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/NYCe" target="_blank">NYCe</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/sclevine" target="_blank">sclevine</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/MikeJOConnor" target="_blank">MikeJOConnor</a>, and <a href="http://twitter.com/agaliza" target="_blank">agaliza</a>.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">As the group started off my immediate instinct was to stay with the back of the pack. I wanted to chat with <a href="http://twitter.com/BklynRunner" target="_blank">BrklnRunner</a> a bit because I enjoy her blog and she's been such a nice supporter of this blog so I was really excited to meet her in person. Then as the group started taking off I thought, what the heck, why not try to challenge myself a bit and see if I can keep up with some faster runners for awhile? I don't get this opportunity often. If/when I get tired I'll talk to the people behind me then. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">To my surprise I was able to keep up the entire time. Although, what truly floored me was how easy it was! These guys were all running their fun run pace and we were chatting almost the whole time. As a result there was a real sense of ease about it. At one point, when I was in the middle, I had the feeling like I was in a moving car because I wasn't putting in the effort to run at all. I think it helped that I started off running and chatting with <a href="http://twitter.com/agaliza" target="_blank">agaliza</a> who was interested in playing guitar. First of all because he had the most smooth efficient running gait ever so he set a good example and second because when I was encouraging him about the guitar it got me so excited and energized I wasn't worrying about running fatigue. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">As the group continued to spread out I found myself alongside <a href="http://twitter.com/pigtailsflying" target="_blank">pigtailsflying</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/NYCe" target="_blank">NYCe</a> and I just wanted to pinch myself. Earlier that day when I was thinking about whether to do the tweet-up for sure I was looking at their blogs, marveling how smoking fast they are and now here I was running with them.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">When we reached the end of 5 miles it came out that we had run it faster than I had run <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/09/chris-hoban-memorial-5-mile-run-race.html">my recent 5 mile race PR</a>. Admittedly the last mile or two did not feel as easy as the first couple, but I held on and I made it to the end with the middle pack. At this point some people went back to the back pack people but I felt pretty tired so I was happy to stop running. I had been standing there for hardly a minute when <a href="http://twitter.com/runanskyrun" target="_blank">runanskyrun</a> asked me to join him on the bottom loop. The next thing I knew I was running again! He told me about how he had once run from his home in New Jersey to Yankee stadium which I thought was pretty cool. According to his <a href="http://gowagon.com/run/index?id=19&streamid=433952">Go Wagon</a> the total distance for the run was 10.15K with time of 54:15 which is a 8:36 min/mile pace. He finished the 5 mile part a bit ahead of me so my result technically was a few seconds higher. Still, I was amazed that I had run that while talking most of the time. I was a bit disappointed with my 10K result at the <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/10/race-report-part-2-regularly-scheduled.html">Nike Human Race</a> in comparison but I'm really looking forward to see how the <a href="http://nyrr.org/races/2009/r1206x00.asp" target="_blank">Joe Kleinerman 10K</a> goes this Sunday!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Ironically as I was traveling from the boonies of Brooklyn to Central Park I was reading Chapter 36 of <a href="http://store.posetech.com/Pose_Running_Technique_Book_p/pmb.htm" target="_blank">Pose Method of Running</a>: "Overcoming the Fear of Running." In it is this little gem of a paragraph:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"></span></p><blockquote><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">At its core, fear is a reflection of personal uncertainty. What we do not know, or know very little about, creates an emotional void in our performance. When we try to run while dealing with uncertainty, that void quickly fills with fear...fear if running too hard, fear of not running hard enough, fear of injury, fear of success and fear of failure.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Runners habitually underperform because they fear performing better.</span></p></blockquote> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The chapter deals with some of the mental challenges associated with running. This is not to say running is all mental, but it definitely plays a role. The thing is I feel this sense of doubt clouding many aspects of my life. I know what I love. I have no problem doing training exercises, and spending quality time running just like I have no problem practicing singing, playing guitar and writing songs. In my heart these are the things I want to do. So, if the criteria for success is just doing what you love than I am successful. Still, I get so grouchy trying to push myself beyond my comfort zone. To get to a higher level I want other people to be able to appreciate what I am doing too. That, I struggle with that a lot. Perhaps it's my mid-western, middle class, Catholic background but it's really tough for me to be pushy. I know I need to be more assertive about setting up gigs and getting people to listen to my music but I really hate asking. I worry that people won't get it or won't like it and that I'm just not that good. I feel like the next songs I'm working on will be better so I'll wait until they are done (this goes for every song I write I always think the next one is going to be better. ) I have never found a stable career path or line of work that I can tolerate for long. It's always been about running (very recreationally) and music. I hate risking having this vision fall apart at my feet because it is what keeps me going. In short, it is fear as a reflection of complete uncertainty. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">In music as with running I take it to a level I am comfortable with and luckily that level continues to rise little by little. It is a bit of a conservative approach and it works for me to some extent. Still, I would like to blast through some of my self-imposed obstacles and become the artist and runner that in my heart I know I could be. I definitely feel that stupid biological tick. I don't have forever.</span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:12px;"><br /></span></span></div>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-80414994384185484882009-11-13T11:42:00.015-05:002009-11-13T12:41:27.663-05:00A New Hub for New York Runners<a href="http://nycruns.com/" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 87px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_d9LfL4C1Vocjz1d_nUMnsGkYnJ_7UidEkMM5QFBEd2unYW7qH0qCXKv3eHI6r0oKMZuQ-sOeWMqbXFpcp-viwuvtL5quYiHdLhvV0jbjacFdSYH6h9LrEuAwzznLrW1sZJxIPntpvp1I/s400/nycruns.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403644232028554626" /></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Here's a new site worth paying attention to: <a href="http://nycruns.com/" target="_blank">NYCRuns.com</a>. My friend <a href="http://nycruns.com/nycrunners/profile.html?userid=84" target="_blank">Steve</a> is starting up this site for runners in the New York area. It includes spaces for <a href="http://nycruns.com/find-a-group.html" target="_blank">running groups</a>, a local <a href="http://nycruns.com/find-a-race.html" target="_blank">race calendar</a>, <a href="http://nycruns.com/blogs.html" target="_blank">running blogs</a> and a <a href="http://nycruns.com/component/runningpartner/" target="_blank">running partner finder</a>. I think it's a really cool idea. The New York running community is huge and goes way beyond just the NY Road Runners Club. There is definitely a need for a site to pull it all together.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">It went live in the last few months so it's still in its infancy. If you are a runner in the New York area I really encourage you to check it out. You can connect through your Facebook profile which makes it easy to set up. Or you can look at the content without logging in. If you post ideas to a forum, they will be noted and you could have a real impact on getting the site going. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">They've already posted a nice article on <a href="http://nycruns.com/articles/111-who-is-lady-southpaw.html" target="_blank">Lady Southpaw</a>. If you have any running article ideas I'm sure <a href="http://nycruns.com/nycrunners/profile.html?userid=84" target="_blank">Steve</a> would love to know about it. Also, bloggers your contributions could have significant pull!</span></p>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-64049075351585217712009-11-01T07:02:00.014-05:002009-11-08T15:06:28.605-05:00Listen to Shock Pilot and the JogTunes Indie Podcast<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyh5-inw_iGljZ_DTy6dkaMo0us05wuY80SBz8IspfGeciZZRgpo5PXhtU6f4tBAUcDrWKLEMLX5vKn0RnDTwR4bPSnR27Z4MZhyphenhyphenfG_4ViXwrBqKATHv3u33Afq8UdLXuo5qlwrkSpVfWA/s1600-h/jtialbumart300.jpg"></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">This morning I am going to go cheer on the runners of the New York Marathon. Hopefully the weather will clear up a bit and it will be a great race for everyone involved. I am looking forward to running it myself next year. Before I go I have a couple things I need to post about:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The past month I've working with some artists through <a href="http://twitter.com/ShockPilot" target="_blank">twitter</a> and <a href="http://www.ReverbNation.com/ShockPilot" target="_blank">ReverbNation</a>. It was spearheaded by <a href="http://twitter.com/LinwoodStudios" target="_blank">Jonathan Jones</a> of Linwood Studios. My main contribution was the vocals. <a href="http://twitter.com/srm1138" target="_blank">Steve Morton</a> was also a key contributer of some eclectic sounds. The intention was to create something entirely collaborative online with feedback from listeners every step of the way, which was immensely valuable. We went through several drafts and I am very excited about the result. What began as an instrumental sketch about flight became a story about a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYURnwvQ5i0" target="_blank">Lara Croft-like</a> flight attendant (undercover spy?) foiling a terrorist plot mid-air. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', fantasy;">The project is called Shock Pilot and the first song is called "Smokin' Tasers." Find more information about it here:</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', -webkit-fantasy;"><a href="http://www.ReverbNation.com/ShockPilot" target="_blank">http://www.ReverbNation.com/ShockPilot</a></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', -webkit-fantasy;"><a href="http://twitter.com/ShockPilot" target="_blank">http://twitter.com/ShockPilot</a></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', -webkit-fantasy;"><a href="http://linwoodstudios.blogspot.com/2009/10/shock-pilot-official-release-of-smokin.html" target="_blank">http://linwoodstudios.blogspot.com/2009/10/shock-pilot-official-release-of-smokin.html</a></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Please feel free to stream, download, or share the song from here:</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', fantasy;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border="0" width="0" height="0" src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNTcwMzg5MzIzNTUmcHQ9MTI1NzAzODk1Mjc5MyZwPTI3MDgxJmQ9bWljcm9fbXVzaWNfcGxheWVyX2ZpcnN*X2dlbiZnPTEmbz1iMDIzMzEwOTUzMTQ*YTUwOTVkMzAzZjI4NTRlMzdhZCZvZj*w.gif" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://cache.reverbnation.com/widgets/swf/31/widgetPlayerMicro.swf?emailPlaylist=artist_535184&backgroundcolor=EEEEEE&font_color=000000&posted_by=artist_379849&shuffle=&autoPlay=false" height="125" width="160" wmode="transparent"></embed><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border="0" width="0" height="0" src="http://www.reverbnation.com/widgets/trk/31/artist_535184/artist_379849/t.gif" /></span><a href="http://www.quantcast.com/p-05---xoNhTXVc" target="_blank"><img src="http://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-05---xoNhTXVc.gif" style="display: none" border="0" height="1" width="1" alt="Quantcast" /></a></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">There is talk about offering a contest for people interested in making a youtube video for it. Contact me for more details.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', fantasy;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', -webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, fantasy;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyh5-inw_iGljZ_DTy6dkaMo0us05wuY80SBz8IspfGeciZZRgpo5PXhtU6f4tBAUcDrWKLEMLX5vKn0RnDTwR4bPSnR27Z4MZhyphenhyphenfG_4ViXwrBqKATHv3u33Afq8UdLXuo5qlwrkSpVfWA/s320/jtialbumart300.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399111823101192626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The other big news I am very excited to announce that my song "<a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/06/running-song-5-why-i-run.html">Why I Run</a>" was included in this month's <a href="http://jogtunes.com/jti/jtcbrowsepodcasts.php?x=60&v=ID%20between%20453%20and%20465" target="_blank">JogTunes Indie Podcast</a>! Dr. Bob Marcus guides runners through a 60 minute work out featuring a vast array of unsigned and unknown artists, explaining the different tempos for each song along the way. This podcast was indispensable to me when I started researching the idea running music. I used it to feel out the different tempos. I remember being most comfortable in the 150s and 160s. As soon as the pace climbed into 170 or 180 bpm I wasn't able to keep up. Now here I am nearly two years later touting the benefits of <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/search/label/180%20steps%20per%20minute">180 bpm</a>, which proves that cadence is definitely something you can control when you know how. The thing I eventually learned was that the speed of your leg turnover doesn't determine your running speed. If you make your stride smaller you don't have to run faster at the higher tempos. The podcast is a good exercise for trying different stride lengths and cadences as well as discovering unknown artists.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', fantasy;">Here is the link to the show podcast:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><a href="http://jogtunes.com/jti/jtcbrowsepodcasts.php?x=60&v=ID%20between%20453%20and%20465" target="_blank">http://jogtunes.com/jti/jtcbrowsepodcasts.php?x=60&v=ID%20between%20453%20and%20465</a></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">A big thanks to Dr. Bob! He is so nice. I am really happy to have a song in the podcast and to be on the website. It's the fulfillment of something I was dreaming about a year ago. If you have not checked it out already, definitely subscribe to this podcast. The website is also a useful resource for finding good running music.</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', fantasy;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', -webkit-fantasy;"><a href="http://jogtunes.com/" target="_blank">http://jogtunes.com/</a></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', fantasy;"><br /></span></p>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-63900456296214765172009-10-24T21:09:00.017-04:002009-12-03T15:59:12.751-05:00Race Report Part 2: The Regularly Scheduled Nike Human Race Report<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Had I waited in the line in <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/10/race-report-part-1-nike-human-rage.html">part one</a> for 5-10 minutes the Nike Human Race Report would have gone something more like this:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Today I took part in the <a href="http://inside.nike.com/blogs/nikerunning_humanrace-en_US/2009/10/24/new-yorkers-rocked-the-nike-human-race-in-prospect-park" target="_blank">Nike Human Race NYC</a>! This is probably the quickest I have churned a race report but the event is centered around the idea that people are running this race all over the world today. There is something pretty cool about that.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', fantasy;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">My goal for this race was to set a new P.R. for the 10K. I ran my last 10K with a total time of 59:06 and a pace per mile of 9:31. I figured after running a 5 mile race at an 8:51 min pace and a half marathon at a 9:25 min pace, I was due for a better 10K time. I seem to think more in pace per mile than total time. So for this race I was thinking I wanted to run as close as possible to a 9 minute per mile average pace.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The other test was that I had my iPod for the first time ever in a race situation! I figured this would be one race where they wouldn't mind if I was tracking it with my Nike+. Therefore, I shall breakdown this race in the form of my playlist:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>Track 1: "You'll Find a Way," by Santigold</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I used this in an <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/08/running-rock-resource.html" target="_blank">iMix last summer</a> and I swear I remember it clocking in at least the high 170's beats per minute (bpm) wise. I put it first because it usually gets me jazzed up and I figured the slightly lower bpm (from my usual 180) would be O.K. as a sort of warm up track. This may be true in a training run, but at the start of the race I was bursting with adrenaline. The slower tempo was really aggravating. In fact, I just re-measured it and it is actually closer to 165. So it turns out I tapped out the remix before and then downloaded the original version, genius. I can't believe I didn't notice that before today. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>Track 2: "Why I Run," by Lady Southpaw</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Of course as long as I was testing running music in race situations I was going to try out my own songs. The 180 bpm came as a relief after the Santigold incident. I started getting my footing and feeling more comfortable. It felt so good I hit the back button to repeat it but my iPod actually rebelled! A couple seconds into the song and it skipped to the end of the song. The weird thing was when I tried it again it did the exact same thing. I still have no idea how that happened but I gave up and let it go the second time.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>Track 3: "Run On Sentences Volume 1.1," by Jonathan Jones</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I have gotten to know <a href="http://twitter.com/LinwoodStudios" target="_blank">Jonathan Jones</a> through twitter in the last couple months. He writes scenic, inventive instrumental rock and is a great social networker and campaigner for independent music. He's been trying his hand at running music with a series of songs called "Run On Sentences." Volume 1.1 is my favorite but they're all good. Check them out at <a href="http://www.ReverbNation.com/JonathanJones" target="_blank">http://www.ReverbNation.com/JonathanJones</a>. Also we've been collaborating on a project called <a href="http://twitter.com/ShockPilot" target="_blank">Shock Pilot</a>. Check that out <a href="http://www.ReverbNation.com/ShockPilot" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>Track 4: "Flying On Glass," by AudioFuel</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms', fantasy;">Again, thanks to the world of social networking I found myself writing back and forth with Sean from <a href="http://twitter.com/AudioFuel" target="_blank">AudioFuel</a>. He sent me this track he was working on. It is a remix of a Philip Glass piece at 175 bpm. Despite the slightly low bpm, it has become my absolute favorite track written for running. Of course I am going to be glowing about all of these songs there's a reason I put them on the playlist but I mean it, this one is amazing. Some of the credit goes to Mr. Glass's composition. It is just so smooth in the way it transitions from one variation to another. There is a lot of really blatant repetition in it, which is really soothing, something Glass is known for but most musicians tend to shy away from (myself included) for fear of boring the audience. Unfortunately, I'm not sure where you can get this particular track but definitely have a look at <a href="http://www.audiofuelrunningmusic.com/about/music_and_products.html" target="_blank">AudioFuel</a>. They are a running music project in London. Apparently some of their composers worked on the Matrix soundtrack. This song really helped me get up Prospect Park's tough "North Hill."</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>Track 5: "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker," by The Ramones</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">This song came on once I got over the big hill and was a great reward. Running to it is like eating candy. It's quick, light and fun. I especially liked the line "New York City really has it all," during this race because we were representing the NYC version of the race.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>Tracks 6 & 7: New song + "How To Turn Around a Bad Day," by Hella Sound</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">O.K., this is the last <a href="http://twitter.com/lady_southpaw" target="_blank">twitter</a> reference. Although, I have to say it makes something as seemingly obscure as "running music" seem like a growing community. John Frenette from <a href="http://twitter.com/HellaSound" target="_blank">Hella Sound</a> sent me their new track to give a test run. I thought this would be a good time for it before I decided I would be detailing these choices in this blog. So, I'm not sure how much I should say about the new song because it hasn't been released yet. I will say this, it is the light fun side of Hella Sound. I could imagine running to this song on a beach somewhere and chilling out with a pina colada afterwards. Then at some point it turns a bit CSI Miami-ish, like there was a murder on the island that needs to solved by some Tom Selleck type character. Ha, how's that for a review John? When it finished I listened to "How Turn Around a Bad Day," for a bit until I got closer to the end of the race. <a href="http://www.hellasound.com/" target="_blank">Hella Sound</a> songs are always a go to for training runs. They're long and consistent and crafted with some solid song-writing skills. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>Track 8: "Half-Cocked Concepts," by </b><a href="http://www.rhymesayers.com/neverbetter/" target="_blank"><b>P.O.S.</b></a></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">To use Nike+ jargon, this is my "Powersong." It's a song that always gets me jacked up and makes me want to start running fast no matter how tired I am. Whenever anyone asks me what I listen to when running I usually have to mention P.O.S. I'm not sure how well known he is, but I totally enraptured by his music. He's a punk influenced rapper from Minnesota. His beats and samples are just sickly cool and his lyrics are so entertaining. This song perfectly sums up the anger around the time Bush was elected for his second term. I love listening to it now with the perspective of how things have changed in the oval office. It's empowering and humorous at the same time. Here are just a couple lines:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">"Busy bees making our honey but ski ball tickets still don't count as real money. It's something so ridiculous, funny so f*ckin sick of this consistent lack of vision from children claiming they're listening." "Holler if you hit the bottom running..."</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">"Lean back and relax and tell 'em: Get up, get up, get up and get something, put the mother f*cking Fresca down!"</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>Track 9: "Engineering Masterpiece," by Lady Southpaw</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I had to end with this song because it is all about coming up to the finish line and summoning that last ounce of strength. I have to say I was pretty exhausted at this point and it was pretty cool to listen to something I wrote.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">So my final time was 57:25 with a pace per mile of 9:14 per mile. I succeeded in getting a new personal record. However, I still think I could run a faster average pace if I did it again. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">My conclusion on the racing with iPods is that it can be enjoyable. I did not feel out of touch with what was going on around me. Similar to most races I had moments of speeding up and slowing down. However, I don't feel like it improved my performance at all. It was similar to running with a companion sometimes it boosts you other times it holds you back but the difference is not as significant as you would think. Overall, I still think running solo without music is best in race situations because I like having it as a special time to test your metal as an individual and perform to the best of your ability in that moment. I might feel differently about a marathon length race, but anything shorter is better unencumbered. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">At the same time nothing beats a good running buddy or a great song when you are training. They can make the world go round on endlessly long runs.</span></p>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-3282923599894399722009-10-24T20:38:00.006-04:002009-10-25T14:22:29.630-04:00Race Report Part 1: Nike Human RAGE<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms', -webkit-fantasy;">Oh Nike, you left a bad taste in my mouth after what would have been a pleasantly sweet race. I am dividing my race report into two sections today. The </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', -webkit-fantasy;"><a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/10/race-report-part-2-regularly-scheduled.html">general race report</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms', -webkit-fantasy;"> will soon follow, but first I would like to have a Nike Human Race rant.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Yes, I followed the legions of runners in participating in the <a href="http://inside.nike.com/blogs/nikerunning_humanrace-en_US/2009/10/24/new-yorkers-rocked-the-nike-human-race-in-prospect-park" target="_blank">Nike Human Race NYC</a> today, 10.24.2009. I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical about the event last year, something about it's aesthetic seemed a bit off to me. I mean I like the idea of world unity in running and all that, but coming from Nike it seems a bit contrived. However, becoming active on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/lady_southpaw" target="_blank">twitter</a> this year changed my mind because seeing updates from runners all over the world gearing up for it was cool. So, I jumped on the bandwagon. Also I am signed up to do a 10K event with <a href="http://www.teamintraining.org/" target="_blank">Team in Training</a> in December so it seemed especially appropriate; both because it will be a good before and after to show the effect of the training I will be doing and also because some of the proceeds for the Nike Human Race are going toward Team in Training and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Unfortunately, the perfect storm of variables left me with an unpleasant ending. Not all of them were Nike's fault, like the weather or the fact that the F train was not running (the train that goes through part of the park where the start line was.) Still, there were organizational problems where they were to blame. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">My first fatal flaw was that I didn't want to go into Manhattan to pick up my chip and t-shirt a day or two before the race. I live and work in Brooklyn so I figured it would be better for me to do it the morning of the race since it was taking place in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. My second mistake was that I brought a backpack. Since the F train was not running and I knew I would be standing around waiting for buses; I figured I would like to have the extra layer of cloths and a book. Had I picked up my shirt already I would have dropped my stuff off at the gym but because I still had to pick that stuff up, I figured I would take advantage of baggage check... these were to be my famous last words.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">My first thought when I entered the park was, gee, it really is a sea of red t-shirts like all the promotional art. Why is everyone complying with this so universally? Well I soon found out. The chip line was a breeze, it was separated by last name. I was surprised how many people were in line to register the day of the race and glad I didn't have to wait in that line. Then I saw the t-shirt line extending off into the horizon. I thought to myself, eh, I don't need a t-shirt, I prefer the one I'm wearing anyway. So I ask the chip lady if I could forgo getting the shirt. She raised an eyebrow at me, "Do you want to check your bag? Then you have to get a t-shirt." It turns out the race numbers are on the shirts! Nice Nike, way to indirectly enforce conformity. Of course I was not running 10K with a backpack on and there was no way I could make the gym before the race start. I entered the line questioning if I could even make the start time after waiting for the t-shirt.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Turns out it was not so bad, I even made it through the porta-potty line before the start (a victory in itself after the <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/10/staten-island-half-marathon-race-report.html" target="_blank">Staten Island Half</a>.) What I did not realize was that I was given a doomed "0" T-shirt. The number on your T-shirt determined which bus you put your bag in. Bus zero, was the last bus on the end. Everyone registering and picking up a t-shirt that day must have gotten a zero t-shirt. Then, the added kicker was that everyone arriving late (the bag check was scheduled to close at 7:45) apparently was told they had to put their bag on bus 0 regardless of their number.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">So, when the race was over and people went to pick up their bags the line for bus 0 eclipsed the length of all 10 buses. As far as I could tell if you had a bag on any other bus you didn't even have to wait in line. It was thoroughly maddening!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The other problem was that the line was not moving. No one was directing the line whatsoever. The poor guys on the bus were doing their job the same as all the other drivers; they let on one or two people at time to retrieve their bags and they matched their shirt numbers to make sure it was the right person. Unfortunately, when there was such a large percentage of the bags on one bus this was a completely inefficient system.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Now, at this point, I was calm. I figured I'm just killing time before <a href="http://www.mattandkimmusic.com/" target="_blank">Matt and Kim</a> perform anyway. I can wait in line and mentally formulate <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/10/race-report-part-2-regularly-scheduled.html">my race report</a> etc. The people directly around me were starting to get very angry. One of them said she could see people just cutting the line altogether. One by one, they left the line and took their chances with cutting in. This is one of those times where some one like me is left feeling like a real sucker. I hate it when people push their way to the front at the expense of everyone else, but then at the same time who is left at the back of the line suffering? That's right, the nice people. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Anyway, after waiting in this virtually unmoving line over half an hour I begin to suspect I hear Matt and Kim songs playing in the distance. At this point I am in denial. "Nah," I think, "I would have heard the announcer or the roaring crowd," or "Maybe they are just playing the CD to get people psyched up to hear Matt and Kim." I was seriously considering going to check it out and coming back later, but I looked back and saw the line was stretching twice as far behind me. The fear of having to start it over (in the case the set had not started) seemed like too big a gamble. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">It was not long after this that thoughts of Matt and Kim dissolved from my mind as disgruntled runners started scaling the sides of the bus, pulling out random bags and passing them into the crowd below where they disappeared. The mob of waiting runners gathered up in paralyzed anticipation. There was some relief that maybe this wait would be over but at the same time it was impossible to see any of the bags. Where were they going? Who was monitoring this? Everyone was packed so tightly. There was no way to move through and get a good look at what was happening. Most people were dumbstruck but occasionally you would hear a "this is insane," or "is this some kind of strange social experiment?"</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Luckily there was nothing too valuable in my bag. Although I did want to be able to wear pants home. It was easily an hour from the time I got in that line until I wrestled my bag out of that tangled mess. No one was checking numbers at that point, by the way. Without opening my bag I slung it over my back and marched toward the concert stage. I could hear the song "Daylight" and I had hope that I could make at least part of this show. I was so excited after my ordeal to see Kim standing up on her stool stomping and Matt shouting out a hearty "Brooklyn!" No sooner had I come to a stop then they wrapped up their final chorus and immediately disappeared off stage. Seriously, I saw them for a total of about 30 seconds and they were done!! It was such a cruel tease! (Not that it was their fault of course.) </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I have to say I remained pretty cool through all the lines, but as I stood there in the mud realizing I had just missed the entire Matt and Kim show there is really no other word to describe what I was feeling but RAGE. I had heard there were some organizational problems last year and it looks like they still have a lot to learn. </span></p>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-82740443436384251172009-10-12T11:36:00.013-04:002009-10-12T22:09:22.752-04:00Some Thoughts on Foot Landing While Running a Half Marathon<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">While I was running the <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/10/staten-island-half-marathon-race-report.html">Staten Island Half Marathon</a> yesterday I found myself continually thinking back to a blog I read the night before posted by <a href="http://ncrunnerdude.blogspot.com/2009/10/barefoot-josha-man-on-mission.html" target="_blank">NCRunnerDude</a>. It was about barefoot running which seems to be all the rage at the moment. You can't get on the running blogosphere or <a href="http://twitter.com/lady_southpaw">twittersphere</a> without hearing about who just tried out a new pair of <a href="http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/" target="_blank">Vibram Five Fingers</a>. I am definitely not ready to jump on the barefoot running bandwagon just yet but as usual I am obsessed with thinking about running biomechanics. The subject of footfall in particular is something that I've been thinking about a lot.<br /><br />I have been told I am a heel striker. When I was given this diagnosis it was before I knew that was a "bad thing" because I had become a heel striker on purpose. A few years ago I went to a podiatrist who took x-rays of my feet and told me I was putting too much pressure on my forefoot which could eventually cause a bunion as well as my obnoxiously thick calluses. He wanted to fit me with some expensive orthotics which would put more padding on my heels. I said thanks but no thanks. Before I had even heard anyone talk about barefoot running I was already thinking I wanted to be able to run with less padding and not more. So I asked him if I should just try striking more on my heels when I ran. He actually laughed at me and told me you can't consciously change your natural running stride. A year later I am told I am a heel striker by shoe salesman and that I should read <a href="http://www.chirunning.com/shop/home.php" target="_blank">ChiRunning</a> to fix my form.<br /><br />Basically, the problem with heel striking is that it is unnatural to the way we were built to run. It can cause problems because it sets your alignment off. You tend impact the ground ahead of your center of gravity. Also it is essentially putting the breaks on with every step slowing you down and causing that annoying up and down bounce. So I get it, heel striking is only possible because of the padding in our running shoes. The consequences tend to be more long term and chronic. On the other hand too much toe running is painful in a much more immediate way. It causes me way more calluses, blisters and pain in my big toe joint, as well as achilles/calf soreness. Some one recently told me that you "get used to it." I'm sorry but I can tell the difference between exercise soreness and pain and I'm not going to get used to the pain. If that's not the path to injury I don't know what is. Chances are I'm doing something wrong when I'm trying to get "off my heels." So it's something I continue to work with and tweak.<br /><br />The best tip on this subject that I got from <a href="http://www.chirunning.com/shop/home.php">ChiRunning</a> was to practice by running on the sand and analyzing the footprints. It is possible to make a flat footprint while running. This past summer I practiced it barefoot on the beach and tried to memorize the feeling for when wearing shoes on the road. I don't want to take my heels completely out of the equation, I just don't want to impact with them.<br /><br />I found this description of barefoot running biomechanics by <a href="http://southofthecliff.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Josh Sutcliffe</a> on <a href="http://ncrunnerdude.blogspot.com/2009/10/barefoot-josha-man-on-mission.html" target="_blank">NCRunnerDude</a>'s blog to be really helpful. Understanding natural running biomechanics can be useful even if you are trying to apply it in shoes. There are a ton of great images and tips in here so I'm sharing it:<br /><br /></span><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pOc9a3Hk0Vo&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pOc9a3Hk0Vo&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /><br /><br /></span>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-31493323256346259722009-10-12T09:31:00.016-04:002009-10-12T22:10:46.213-04:00Staten Island Half Marathon Race Report<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Yesterday we had the perfect weather for a half marathon. It was sunny, clear and a little crisp but not too cold. Since the <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/08/nyc-half-marathon-report.html">NYC Half</a> I had not done a ton of extra training; I did a few speed and hill intervals and ran a 10 and 12 miler in addition to my regular running to maintain my fitness. My general goal was the same as usual: to run in a way that felt strong from beginning to end. As far as time I wanted to break an average 10 minute mile after my last average of a 10:01 mile.</span> </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I was lucky enough to have my boyfriend Chris drive me to the start line. In Brooklyn we live so close to the Verrazano bridge into Staten Island that it seemed ridiculous to get up early enough to take the train into Manhattan for the SI Ferry. Also, the tolls on the bridge are high enough that it would double the cost of a car service and if I took the bus I would have had to change 3 times. How can something so close be so far? Anyway Chris was a trooper about getting up and drive in. He even wore his Lady Southpaw t-shirt which earned him an extra gold star.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /><a class="boxl" href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/" onclick="window.open('http://ladysouthpaw.spreadshirt.com/','shopfenster','scrollbars=yes,width=650,height=450')"><img src="http://image.spreadshirt.com/image-server/image/product/15342376/view/1/type/png/width/190/height/190" border="0" alt="test" title="Lady Southpaw Running Rocks T-shirt" /></a><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">My first stop once I found start was the the port-a-potty line. I naively thought that being 20-30 minutes early would give me enough time to get through the line and to the start. The lines were long but there were so many of them and these people were all racers trying to get to the same race, so no problem right? Well, I was still about a dozen people away when the start gun fired. From that point to john I was hopping from foot to foot in pure agony for what felt like an eternity. After peeing a liter bottle worth of pure spring water I applied my hand sanitizer and took off for the start. In all of my little adjustments (taking my <a href="http://www.guenergy.com/products/gu-energy-gel" target="_blank">GU</a>, putting on my <a href="http://www.fuelbelt.com/fuel_belts/4_bottle.html" target="_blank">Fuel Belt</a>) I completely blocked out the start line clock. This was a very annoying omission for the next couple of hours because I wasn't wearing a watch and had no idea how long I was standing in that line.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, fantasy;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI32uUTp2OQhjhhyphenhyphenTZcS1VlecsoyEs6hmEpSz9dHtUIAqcphSr0VtBIWIXnBou0igR30ILJaSiFZRlJ7x5QuSFm1-Eep-JPwe98SgpDCHBN-NSI4mPC2-_IjujXLLq-DwB-MBen_ULQ1jB/s320/SI_Portapotty_line.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391713988903843586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px; " /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I crossed the start line after the pack in the corrals had cleared. At first I thought this would be a bad thing because I would be stuck behind all the slowest people. Actually it was great because by then pack had already spread out so it was easy to weave through people and I felt like I was more with the port-a-potty crowd so there were a lot of varying speeds to work off of as I made my way to a comfortable race pace.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The route was basically an out and back from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal to a bit past the Verrazano Bridge and back. It was along the northern edge of the island so we didn't get a many of the vicious hills in the middle. One of the nice things about being an out and back was that you could assess the terrain on the way out to strategize for the way back. Also, I have to admit, most of what I'd seen of Staten Island was the view from the highway passing through so it was nice to see some actual residential and commercial areas. There was also a lot of running through industrial areas too which would not have been so nice except that it's on the opposite side of the Upper New York Bay where I usually do my running in Brooklyn. It was cool to get a new perspective on it.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">When I was about five miles from the end I felt great. I thought to my recent five mile race in Brooklyn and thought I could run that right now. I had a surge of speed for the next couple miles. I was prepared for the fact that there would be a big long hill about 3 miles from the end and then it was more or less downhill to the finish. I stayed conservative up the hill and prepared to speed to the finish. When I got to the top I found I wasn't ready to speed up. Then as I ran downhill a horrible thing started happening. At first it just felt like a little spasm in my calf. Then I realized I was dangerously close to having a full on cramp. I get these cramps sometimes after I've been working out really hard. I pretty sure it's a sign my electrolyte levels are off but I'm never sure if It's dehydration or low sodium, or both. I was drinking all along the route. I had my <a href="http://www.fuelbelt.com/fuel_belts/4_bottle.html" target="_blank">Fuel Belt</a> and I was stopping at water stops. I had my <a href="http://www.guenergy.com/products/gu-energy-gel" target="_blank">GU</a>, but I had it really late (I almost forgot about it) I had a packet of salt on the long hill, but again, maybe it was too late? Maybe it was the transition from uphill to downhill? Whatever it was, it was really annoying because I was running a really good race up until that point. I was pacing a sub 10 minute mile, I had no joint pain and my energy was still up. I just tried to stay calm and kept running. I knew if I stopped I would feel the cramps and whenever I sped up I felt the cramps. I was so glad I had my fuel belt because drinking made me feel like I was at least doing something to help. The cramps spread into my feet as well as my calves but the finish was so close. When I saw the time on the clock was 2:11 something I almost cried with joy because that was my net time for my last half. Whatever the time I still managed a Personal Record! Of course at that point I had no idea how much because I didn't see my start time.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Turns out the port-a-potty line only set me back about 8 minutes, which surprised me because in took me over ten minutes to get to the start in Brooklyn and Manhattan without the delay. Still, I seem to be improving and I'm doing it gradually, consistently and without injury so there you go. This will probably be my last half marathon for 2009. Ideally, I'd like to run a sub 2 hour half next. Until then I'll try to improve my speed with 5Ks, 5 milers, and 10Ks.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Here's the final half marathon stats for 2009:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/06/brooklyn-half-marathon-report.html">Brooklyn Half Marathon</a> - 2:17:28 - pace: 10:29/mile</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/08/nyc-half-marathon-report.html">NYC Half Marathon</a> - 2:11:26 - pace: 10:01/mile</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Staten Island Half Marathon - 2:03:31 - pace: 9:25/mile</span></p>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-72955422039152096332009-09-24T09:39:00.008-04:002009-09-24T10:08:32.335-04:00Superb Stuff #2: Kashi<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0elJrYru1IQxGcMnBBd6fZ81u6ONFFrOeHFAXlTVIztySLyH2AEabz-VVOj9Lq_90mSkFbxMYI6LRXrC2IbaJJKVzx3DmMSg2ccbtC6qPFWBKBmuuerZLeALM5nA5SALmdtmil6cBmN_/s1600-h/kashi+cereal+go+lean+crunch.jpg"></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms', -webkit-fantasy;">This is the second installment of the Superb Stuff series. <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/09/superb-stuff-series.html" target="_blank">Read the introduction here</a>.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Right now I am sitting over my laptop, the way I do every morning, with a delicious bowl of cereal. Full disclosure: my name is Erin and I am a cereal-aholic. My dad works for <a href="http://www.kelloggcompany.com/company.aspx?id=32" target="_blank">Kellogg's</a> and I grew up in the "<a href="http://www.break.com/usercontent/2009/6/battle-creek-cereal-city-753824.html" target="_blank">Cereal City</a>" Battle Creek, Michigan (I just found a <a href="http://www.break.com/usercontent/2009/6/battle-creek-cereal-city-753824.html" target="_blank">link</a> with a comedian making fun of it, pretty funny). Anyway, it is in the complete spirit of uncensored bias that I present <a href="http://www.kashi.com/" target="_blank">Kashi</a> as one of my favorite companies.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">As a kid I was pretty much raised on Kellogg's cereals like Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, and my personal favorite Froot Loops. I still enjoy Special K and other Kellogg's cereals (although not the Froot Loops so much) but as I have gotten older and more health conscious, my tastes have changed. It seemed appropriate that as I was learning more about nutrition and getting into yoga that my dad introduced me to a small Californian health food company called <a href="http://www.kashi.com/" target="_blank">Kashi</a>.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Kashi cereals are high in protein, fiber and their signature blend of whole grains. Their signature phrase is, "7 whole grains on a mission." Here is a section of their mission, or "<a href="http://www.kashi.com/meet_us/sustainability" target="_blank">Mantra</a>" as they call it, that stands out to me:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia, fantasy;font-size:16px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0elJrYru1IQxGcMnBBd6fZ81u6ONFFrOeHFAXlTVIztySLyH2AEabz-VVOj9Lq_90mSkFbxMYI6LRXrC2IbaJJKVzx3DmMSg2ccbtC6qPFWBKBmuuerZLeALM5nA5SALmdtmil6cBmN_/s200/kashi+cereal+go+lean+crunch.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385035258057296626" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 200px; " /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#99FF99;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Health isn’t a destination; it’s a journey. Every little step we take creates a healthier path forward. We believe that when we eat well, we feel well, and do well for ourselves, our families, our coworkers, our communities, and the world. This philosophy builds on our deep roots in natural foods since 1984 and remains our daily guiding light.</span></span></span></blockquote></span><p></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">They go on to highlight all the ways that they are active in community building and environmental sustainability. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Sure, a lot of companies take on this image because it is fashionable to be health conscious and environmentally friendly these days. Still, more companies don't even bother. As consumers if we are serious about good health and corporate environmental practices we should support companies who make it a serious priority. It is built into the DNA of Kashi and I hope they stay that way. Plus Kashi Go Lean is really yummy.</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', fantasy;"><br /></span></p>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6347480677972268965.post-89462449722129674572009-09-21T09:51:00.013-04:002009-09-24T17:21:43.905-04:00Chris Hoban Memorial 5-Mile Run: Race Report<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGQBuJw7bYaYeyi8ac9OvTVaPmhyPSWEzv_8dvxrXoorVQQMtsEroCZ6lctXAvkeq4S5YfwqqpTpW9prVRmIWRiQw_9m6FHHhiDajeWCK8rOzgYoz0B7ytWdauJfskt_SzVxVTE96xKCR/s1600-h/fireboatHeli.jpg"></a><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms', -webkit-fantasy;">Yesterday was the first time I ran a race through the <a href="http://www.pptc.org/" target="_blank">Prospect Park Track Club</a>. It was called the <a href="http://www.hobanrun.com/index.html" target="_blank">Chris Hoban Memorial 5-Mile Run</a> and took place in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Most of the events I've done this year have been through the <a href="http://www.nyrr.org/" target="_blank">New York Road Runner's Club</a> (NYRR) which at about 40,000 members has to be one of the largest running clubs in existence. There were notable differences in the experience of doing a smaller race.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">First of all, I didn't have to get up at 4 am to make it up to Central Park using weekend subway trains (notorious for their service changes and unreliability.) The race itself didn't start until 10:30. The start line was about 3 miles from my house so I left at a leisurely 9 am and walked/jogged as a warm up. I also gave myself ample time to get my race number and use the restroom before the 10 am opening ceremony. At a half an hour the ceremony was a bit long and tough to stand still through. Chris Hoban was a New York police officer who was killed in an undercover drug buy 21 years ago. I had a young uncle who was killed that same year and I remember what a painful shock that was to my family; it still stings a little to think about. So, I had a lot of respect for what they were doing and the fact that they used the event to do good for their community. At the end of the ceremony an NYPD helicopter did a low dive over the crowd which frankly, completely freaked me out.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGQBuJw7bYaYeyi8ac9OvTVaPmhyPSWEzv_8dvxrXoorVQQMtsEroCZ6lctXAvkeq4S5YfwqqpTpW9prVRmIWRiQw_9m6FHHhiDajeWCK8rOzgYoz0B7ytWdauJfskt_SzVxVTE96xKCR/s320/fireboatHeli.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383926363817710066" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 187px; " /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Then we lined up behind the starting line. This was so much different than NYRR. There were no corrals. It did not take me ten minutes just to get to the start line. My race number was so small at a mere 3 digits. The run itself was beautiful route. It took us down the Shore Road Promenade which is a great running and bike path with a view of the New York Bay complete with Lower Manhattan skyline, Statue of Liberty, Staten Island, and Verrazano Bridge. Then it looped up 3rd Ave (parallel to 4th Ave, the first leg of the New York marathon) and back to the start at Xaverian High School. </span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', fantasy;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">My goal for races 10K and under is usually to try to burst the average pace of 9 minutes per mile. I have yet to do it in a scored New York Road Runners race. This annoys me to no end because the quicker your pace per mile the closer your corral is to the start line (and the less time spent standing around after the gun goes off.) I did run a 5 mile in New Jersey last year where I was a few seconds under the 45 min total time so I know it is possible. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The first leg of the race was pretty crowded so there was a lot of jockeying for position. I tried to stay pretty conservative but not easy. I focused on short quick strides like I had been practicing. I did not have my music because I wanted to be completely present in what people were doing around me but I did try to channel some of my songs mentally to keep the rhythm in my arms and legs. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">At the halfway point I was right on pace but the idea of maintaining the pace for another 2 and a half miles seemed like a tall order. The mile markers weren't that clear with volunteers shouting split times as you ran by. As a result I got a bit disoriented about how far I was and how much was left in the fourth mile. At one point I remember thinking I would have had to run a 5 and a half minute mile in the last mile to make it under 45 minutes so I had to let go of my goal. Still, I managed to maintain my intensity and was psyched to look around and see that I was mostly running with guys. I could see a few ladies ahead of me but I was definitely ahead of the big crowd and up with the above average runners. There was a big hill right before the finish line which sucked but the downhill into the finish made for a nice final kick. To my surprise the clock read 44:17.48! So I made my goal with a 8:52 per mile pace afterall. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I just downloaded the pdf with the race results and I've been pouring over it. Unlike NYRR race results it doesn't calculate my age and gender place so I actually went through and counted all the 20-29 year old females who placed ahead of me. The first 5 in each age/gender group got trophies. I was very pleased to find that my score placed me as #12 among the women in their 20s. My overall place was 227 out of 612 finishers. That definitely beats my usual NYRR placement which is something in the thousands. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">It was definitely a nice change to do a more local race and I will definitely try to do more. Maybe next time I'll memorize some mile mark landmarks in advance so I don't have to worry about the high school aged volunteers shouting confusing numbers at me in my runner's fog. Although the focus of this race report has been on the numbers I still think of it as a by-product of my training. I am most proud of the fact that I could run in a way that I felt strong. I was challenging myself with the pace all the way through but I never lost form or felt that I was risking injury in order to achieve my result. My goal is to continue to improve gradually with an emphasis on good practice. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Random side note: as I was walking past the ambulance parked at the finish line, the runner sitting on the stretcher getting his knee iced and taped was none other that the guy I blogged about drafting off me in <a href="http://ladysouthpaw.blogspot.com/2009/09/how-to-school-someone-with-good-running_13.html">my blog last week</a>. I swear I'm not making that up. The path we were running was part of the race route but it was still weird to him in there.</span></p>Lady Southpawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10156133750098256092noreply@blogger.com7