2009 NYC marathon...my 20th!!

Here are some photos from last year's 2008 marathon..since have put in no training in past month, am hoping to run this weekend's NYCM, my 20th, at an ultra pace...
good luck to everyone this weekend where ever you may be racing...

columbus day weekend 5Ks

above; left --after brigeport.

left and below --some scenes from the Van Cortlandt park 5K --tough course!



below-- a cheerful scene from my friend's porch!!

....and scene of Bridgeport 5K course

finish line of the Columbus day bridgeport 5K (Sat oct 10)
this past weekend was a weekend of 5Ks --the weather was spectacular, especiall on Sunday and I was jealous of all the Steamtown marathon runners...not sure if it made my foot any better but I do feel that it did --needed a break from the long runs; and the recovery will be faster and the sunday 5Ks were on trails (Suzannah's run in Greenwich and Harry Murphy 5K in VCP) and the NB trail racing flats are just the best...I don't toe off my foot as much so am not putting pressure on the bone bruise...arghh -- thisSunday is the long island 6 hour and it is going to be cold, windy and rainy...had hoped to walk/jog 26 miles of it...on Sat. Frank and I are going to run (well, I will walk it)
a trail 5K on Staten Island in his old cub scout stomping grounds --then hpefully on the way home I will pop up to my friend Ella's Brooklyn art studio (she is having an open house)-- coffee also on a rainy cold day???

my drawing class..

is every thursday --yesterday I took Ike (he loves to draw) --I finished these purple flowers...this a.m. biked in the pouring rain...oh well!! Had to go to gym later to run a few miles to warm up. So many endurance events this weekend --Hawaii Ironman, steamtown, hartford, chicago --good luck to all if you are running (Dawn? Hartford?)!!

Maine /new art blog...

Finally --I have created a new blog to display some of my artwork.
style="font-weight:bold;">emmy's virtual art gallery..The displays are haphazard, and I am missing my house illustrations and pottery painting..will take pix and post them in a few days --but this is a start. Ha --emmy's virtual art gallery






In the meantime, I had a tough time in Maine --the top of my foot started hurting again; plus had a nasty cold that left me dead tired --simply could not get my body moving. I changed over to the half marathon in the middle of the race, and even with cranking up the pace ran 1:42:45 (7:50s) --then ran/walked 7 more and saw Frank finish--yeah!!!!!!!!! in 3:25...had I hung back, probably would have finished the marathon, AND would have probably placed as the first 50s was 3:52 --my age group in the half was enormously competitive -came in 6th place -haha!!! I learned my lesson big time about committing to and focusing on a race and a goal....otherwise one is left wit an unsatisfying experience. In this case, i really did not feel well (it was a struggle to breathe), my Nike shoes were hurting...it just seemed that my mind was not into it and was happy just to finish the half, and had a great weekend!!!

October already??? Off to Maine marathon

Dahlias from local show (painting them)

John's sunflowers (did illustration of them)!
I have not been into updating my blog for awhile --I feel that my running has lacked focus and that because of the ongoing bone bruise pain, every long run seems to bring me back to square one or two or three....the bone seems heals but the tissues around it get stiff and sore. I have been a good patient during the week, biking 2-3 times, running easy on pavement and resting --can finally slap the foot down right on my arch and it's fine--the last few miles of the rainy marathon tune-up it was sore, though.
In doing the tune-up I gave up racing tomm a.m. in Grete's half but the tuneup was more relaxed ...I feel very close to getting healed but may have to do total rest next week!!! In any case, have made it thru 3 long runs and now this weekend am headed up to Maine and am looking forward to the foliage, and the sights --will probably do the 1/2 marathon --John running in relay, and Frank will run the full. John wanted us to come up and the timing was right for Frank to run a marathon, and although I want to run the full as well, the timing may not work for me (need shorter race this weekend, unless it is a long hike on trails:)) Next week, have 2 painting projects to work on -fall is really here!! Lots of events to look forward to --maybe Staten Island 1/2, a trail run on the 17th or 18th and some shorter races til NYCM!!
Then Stone Cat 50 --since my injury better be gone by then and foot strong, will do Stone cat easy..like last year if it works.
For now, off to Maine marathon/half marathon/relay tomm -yeah!! Oh, in 2006, I finished the marathon in pain (hip tendonitis) --I think my time was 3:37?? and I came in second 45-49...I loved the course --it was scenic and fast. After the race, since I had Hank and Ike with me (John had watched them after his relay portion), we
went into Portland to three dollar dewey's for hamburgers and I snuck into the Portland Museum and LL Bean.

August update -family trip to Normandy

this is the first time in a month have updated my blog-haven't been too inspired as it seems this foot injury will never disappear --sprained ligaments that keep getting re-injured every time i run:(...YES, i was a bad patient in France it would have been impossible for me to rest...after a 10 day trip, got back from France Friday, Aug 28 after a 7 hour trip (but watched 4 movies on airplane, and read book). The travel over is stressful, but it was great when in this idyllic spot; a huge house with 10 bedrooms, a guest cottage, and miles of forest trails, water views of siene and friendly people --best of al, motorists are so used to bikers that they gave me a wide berth while running and biking so it's much safer than in the U.S....
and although we had a good time with all the cousins (20 people were staying at my mother-in-law's house), we did not do as much touring as i would've liked -no Paris and no Normandy beaches. But the weather in 'Haute Normandie' was amazing --every day low humidity, sunshine and in high 60s (actually, like today, as i write this!)....each day, a group would go running 3-4 miles in the morning, but since i was jet lagged i would sleep trough this 9 a.m. jog -my son, andrew, however, went every day with the group. Then i would be left to my own devices, and would usually run for an hour and a half in trails (but lots of small rocks so a couple times re-injured my foot by stepping hard on a rock)...I had the desire to do a 20 mile run or a 5 hour hike but it didn't work out..then we'd go to a beach or go to a market in a neighboring town, or i'd bike. Then, as everyone loves to shop for food and cook, we'd have huge dinners outside-late at night too, so definately gained weight --don't weigh myself but can feel it around my middle!! So back to square one --extra pounds and injury --arghhh!! Did get lots of painting photos and ideas!!!Rain forecasted for Sat., but wanted to run the Westport 9.3 miler as did take 2 rest days before came home. So, I did despite pouring rain driving up.
Felt endurance completely gone, and foot had swelled up on plane...and even a 7:30 pace was a struggle-out of shape!. But I made it, and actually felt better the next day at the NYRRC x-country race --if we could run in VCP all the time i'd be so happy...wonderful trails! but we have waveny..amazing, I can run barefoot or in racing flats on grass with no pain at all.
Have been working on strengthening foot also..
In any case, I just found my training diary from France so though i'd type it in -
8/19 --arrived; slept for 4 hours, and woke up and jogged 6 miles
8/20 -slept til 10? ran 1:30 over country roads (@9 miles); 4 mile hike w/kids
8/21 -ran @9 miles; biked 15 miles around 5 p.m. --big dinner and cake for niece!
8/22 -ran @10-12 miles (some walking); hiked 4-plus miles with andrew
8/23--ran 10 miles; biked around 10 mies in p.m.;
8/24 ran 6 in a.m. ; 4 in p.m. --went to etratat and hiked -3 miles
8/25 biked 30 miles (18 a.m.; 12 p.m.)-ran 4 miles at noon
8/26 --ran 10 miles?? and biked to tigers w/andrew (10 miles)
8/27 --rest (finally)-travel day
not sure when i'll be able to run long again but hope that day will come soon!!!
Am excited for the maine marathon and want to be healthy for that --and the marathon tune up on the 27th...but for now, no more than 3 miles..

mid-august already???

me in Escarpment trail run before I stopped at 12.9 because of the mud and my foot

Ilana and I after the Taconic biathlon

Frank and I after the Taconic biathlon

it's tough having a fur coat in august!!


scenes from the aug. 8 NYRRC club team championship

I have been really lazy about updating my blog as basically have been running in pain and discomfort with a sprained foot --only drugs and ice seem to help. Got a fairly strong digital x-ray which showed no sign of stress fracture but inflamed ligaments and tendons. I ran only 3 times this week --tues. p.m. at waveny, fri. and sat. I 'tested' the foot out this Sat at the Club Team Championships -ouch!! For the first 2 miles it was Ok, but then I felt sharp pain on top of foot --not good..was able to crank out a faster last mile (6:45 -downhill) and breathing was labored but actually good for my lack of racing...so cross training and rest is the option for the week --fortunately have no races coming up (until New Haven 20K or 5K, Norwalk 1/2 and Maine marathon oct. 1, but can be in shape to jog that or even do the 1/2)--if it works will run the Westport aug 29 race. I can run but afterward foot is stiff and tender --not fun.
But when I think f the pounding i put my body through this winter to get read for Umstead and with general racing, and with the Memorial weekend trek, and with VT 100 miler-that's alot...I am just a bad patient and don't want to rest.
At first, it seemed funny that all of our friends are starting to put i long runs to gear up for fall marathons while I was recovering from VT (actually wasn't tired after 2 weeks)but now I am realizing that Oct. 4 and the Maine marathon is really close to 7 weeks away...but for now minimal mileage and get healthy again.