Be Bold Be Brave Be Seen in 2011!

It's that time of year again!  The combination of over eating since Thanksgiving and the resolutions made tonight - New Years Eve - the gym will surely be packed with people for the next month or so. Whether you are re-visiting the gym/working out after a major absence or are coming back with some serious motivation to get even fitter than you left 2010, I want you to Be Bold Be Brave and Be Seen!! :)

Be Bold

You've taken the first step - deciding that your health and fitness is an important priority for your well being.  Now be bold!  Have a plan for any and all possible reasons/excuses that could, and will, come up so that they do not derail you from your health and fitness plans.  We all have things to work around.  MAKE IT HAPPEN.  It's okay if you're plan for an hour run outside or Kettlebell class at the gym turned into a 20-minute, at-home workout with gallons of water for weights and lots of planks!  BE FLEXIBLE.  Over the Christmas holiday my sister and I were snowed in at my parents' house but we still managed to get in a couple of really good workouts!  We printed out a few from Women's Health Magazine and were sweating within minutes!

Be Brave

This is a great time to face your fears, tackle your biggest, loftiest goals and go for it!  You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Be Seen

There's nothing like that feeling of euphoria after an intense sweat session!  I love that I-can-conquer-anything feeling after a super Spin class or a great run.  Just 20 minutes of light cardio will increase your endorphins, your circulation, and your mood!  Now get out there and Be Seen!

ellasport's newest collection was inspired by the idea, Be Bold Be Brave Be Seen.  Here's the video we made at the shoot that talks a little bit about it.


Be Bold Be Brave Be Seen from ellasport.com on Vimeo.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! :)

The Perfect Tee Begins With The Perfect Fabric!

As I was folding my Charlotte Running Tanks and Park Tees this past weekend, I was admiring the amazing fabric!  It has a slight waffle texture to it, which makes it more fun aesthetically and it helps with the breathe-ability.  The fabric is one of the most important aspects of technical athletic apparel.  It takes me months to chose a fabric for a new item!
Here's a close-up of the Bright Blue Park Tee:

The fabric is 94% Nylon and 6% Lycra - VERY silky, soft against your skin so chaffing is not an option.  In this video Julie Bobek and I talk about the fabric and pieces of the Be Bold Be Brave Be Seen collection!  We also talk about the perfect tee - The Park Tee - and the details of the fit!


Product Description from ellasport.com on Vimeo.


A photo of the entire Park Tee:

Vital Juice's Vital Spy - Dec. 16th

I made Vital Juice's (New York City edition) Vital Spy on Thursday!!!  Vital Juice is a daily newsletter that is a great resource for staying current on all things related to health and fitness.  They have editions that are focused on cities like LA, San Francisco, and Chicago!
Check out Thursday's write-up, which includes my healthy weekend plans :).
http://bit.ly/eLXC2m

ellasport does yoga?

While I personally have only done yoga a handful of times, I truly believe in the benefits of a regular practice.  I felt them right away!  I say every week that I wish I did more yoga.  But the fact of the matter is, like you, life pulls me in a million directions and when I can squeeze time in for a workout, I choose to run, Spin, or circuit train like a mad woman!
Yoga offers many perks to the female athlete.  Here are a few of the big ones: flexibility for all your muscles - not just the ones you stretch to run; a sense of calm, which enables you to handle everyday stress better; and overall strength from your finger tips to your toes!
SO this past weekend we went down to Past Tense Yoga Studio in Washington, DC to introduce ourselves to their community!  Owner of the studio, Kelly DiNardo, was an amazing host!  Kelly is a yogi, a writer AND a runner, among other things, and she found herself looking fabulous in the New Power Capris!  These pants and the Chloe Long Sleeve Tee were big hits!

ellasport Chloe Long Sleeve and New Power Capris

My friend Aashumi, is the owner of Mirasa Design - eco-friendly, handmade kids toys that are ADORABLE!  She was at the studio this past weekend, like she is everyday :).  Aashumi is a true yogi and loves ellasport!  Here she is educating a customer on a Mirasa animal.  My favorite is the zebra!

Mirasa Design at Past Tense Yoga Studio

Thanks for a great event Kelly!  We can't wait until next year!

Spin Playlist 11.21.10

Here it is - my latest Spin playlist that I also played today to get me through a kick-butt circuit workout.  Enjoy! :)
-Miami 2 Ibiza: Swedish House Mafia & Tinie Tempah
-Animal: Neon Trees
-I Want You: Fefe Dobson
-Up Straight to The Sky: Sandy Vee
-Waiting Outside The Lines: Greyson Chance
-Raise Your Glass: P!nk
-Everything: The Veronicas
-I Gotta Feeling: Black Eyes Peas
-Only Girl (In The World): Rihanna
-Stuttering: Fefe Dobson
-You're The One: Niamh Egan
-Touch: Natasha Bedingfield
-Raindrops: Stunt
-Quicksand (Thievery Corp. remix): Natalie Walker (cool down)
-Stereo Love: Edward Maya & Vika Jigulina
(cool down)

Marathon First-Timer (Brooklyn Native) Qualifies To Run ING NYC Marathon 2010 with the Elite Runners

I sat down with Stacey and got all the details from her training secrets to her power breakfast to her new SUB-ELITE status!!

Pamela Oelerich:  Running with the sub-elite category for your first marathon is quite an accomplishment!  How does it feel?  I know you're probably nervous but is there bliss inside you too about the whole thing?

Stacey Barron: You hit the nail on the head. I'm definitely nervous but there are so many perks that I'm real stoked about.  I was very stressed about the thought of starting amongst a sea of people where I'd have to try to pass people to stay on pace.  Now I'll be toward the front of the pack and I only need to worry about going out too fast - a really big concern. The really cool benefits include getting to catch a later bus (since it'll be part of the motorcade that includes the pros and a police escort to the Fort Wadsworth start on Staten Island), special warm up area, and special recovery area.

 

PO: Training: I know you've been training with Damien Al-Angurli of New York Sports Club (NYSC).  Tell me about his training plan for you.

SB: Damian has been my mentor, thankfully!  He's a professional trainer with NYSC but I worked with him (only for a few sessions) outside of NYSC since I really needed him to help me with speed work at the track and hill repeats in Prospect Park (we're both brooklynites). Damian stressed the importance of hill repeats and incorporating hills into long runs because the NYC ING Marathon is actually quite hilly.  He's been running forever and is so knowledgeable about the sport as well as training in general.  I'm following Hal Higdon's advanced 1 marathon training program that is available online - but Damian has helped me to modify as necessary.  Without Damian's help, I definitely wouldn't have been able to finish the harder track sessions (8 x 800 Meter) and also would've likely overtrained, possibly even injured myself.  The training is definitely harder than expected; an 18-week training program is a huge commitment!

 

PO: Tell me about the warm-up that you'll do before the marathon.

SB: Good question  I'm still researching it.  I'm a marathon virgin after all. But I know that I'll do at least one mile of really slow jogging to warm up, and then will do my stretch routine that targets the standard muscles groups - quads, hamstrings, calves, IT band, glutes.

 

PO:  What's your energy intake strategy for the marathon? Gels, Gatorade, or whatever drink they'll have on the course, and/or water, how often?

SB: I've recently started to do my long runs w/Gatorade endurance and power bar gels, which is what they'll have on the course.  Again, since I'm a virgin I'm not exactly sure when I'll be refueling - but I expect to use gels right before the start, and then miles 9 and 18.  I'll have extra on me just in case.

 

PO:  What fuels and heals/repairs your body?  Tell me about your favorite pre-race and post-race meals.

SB: My husband has been so good to me. I really appreciate that he's a chef because I'm a mess in the kitchen.  So he's been helping by cooking up awesome pasta and rice dishes when Damian suggested that my diet was lacking complex carbs to match my increased mileage. He also came up with a modified recipe for amazing all-natural energy bars and will basically make whatever recipe I throw at him.  After my long runs he cooks me these fabulous blueberry pancakes that I devour.  Pre-race I like oatmeal with blueberries at least an hour prior, a banana closer to the start.

 

PO:  What are you wearing for the marathon?  Tell me what you like about each piece.  Include your sneakers and sports bra too.

SB: I will be proudly wearing ellasport's New Power Capris and Charlotte Running Tank in Jet Black, and a simple black Champion double-dry seamless cami sport bra (unfortunately I need zero support but it keeps it simple & cheap!) underneath.   And my favorite Asics (GEL-DS Trainer 15) sneakers.

 

PO:  What advice would you give other runners thinking about running a marathon?

SB: I never appreciated nor understood the need for rest days until I started training for the marathon.  My training plan includes one rest day, Friday, which is now my favorite day of the week!  I also never realized how important sleep is and how much in aids in your body's ability to recover.  As for diet, I naturally tend to watch what I eat and avoid too many carbs.  That all changed when I my mileage really started to pick up; carbohydrates are essential not only to fuel work outs, but to recover faster.

PO:  How do you balance training with working full-time and time with your hubby, Bob? :)

SB: It's been difficult, but I've always spent too much time at the gym.  It's been more stressful for sure, because I don't want to miss a work-out, but in terms of time away from each other, it hasn't been too much more than usual.  Thankfully things haven't been too hectic at work until recently, so I've been able to manage pretty well. I have been sleeping a lot more though, which has eaten into any residual time that I have to spend with Bob. But he's very understanding so it's been good.
Here are a couple of photos of Stacey in her ING NYC Marathon race outfit.  Good Luck Stace!!

 

Stacey Barron in ellasport New Power Capris 

and Charlotte Running Tank

 

Stacey Barron in ellasport New Power Capris 

and Charlotte Running Tank

Best Total-Body Workout: 1 Hour, 15 Minutes, 657 Calories Burned

This is SUCH a fun total-body workout that will kick your butt!   It took me 1 hour and 15 minutes and I burned 657 calories!

Step 1:
Foam roll calves and ITB's - 30 seconds each
Static Stretch (30 seconds each) - Hip flexors and Adductors (inner thighs)
Step 2:
Core - 2 X 15: back extensions, reverse crunches, cable rotations
Balance - 2 x 10 each leg - single leg balance reach (left hand to right toe, squat with right leg, then reverse)
Reactive - 2 x 8 box jumps - jump up on a stepper with 4-5 stacks, landing with both feet at the same time.  Hold the landing for 1-2 seconds.
Step 3:

30-minute interval run - after a 5 to 10-minute warm-up, get your HR up to about 65-70% HRM (max heart rate).  Then do 30-seconds to 2-minute intervals of 75% HRM to 85% HRM.  In between the high-intensity intervals bring your HR back down to 65-70% and catch your breath.  As you get more fit, these recovery intervals will become shorter.  Take the last 10 minutes to run at whatever pace you want.
Step 4:
Resistance Training - The following circuit is my favorite!  You can do this two or three times in a row in place of a cardio workout.  But for this workout just do it once since you'll have done the 30-minute interval run.  Keep the rest between exercises to a minimum - you should be breathing heavy and sweating!
Lunge, Curl, Shoulder Press - 1o reps each leg (alternate) with 7.5-lb. dumbbells
Ball Chest Press - 15 reps with 18-lb. body bar
Ball Leg Lifts - Face down on a ball (ball under your stomach), palms on the floor in front of you, lift your legs off the floor to about head height.  Hold for 1-2 seconds.
Single-leg or Bosu ball, Shoulder Dumbbell raises - 15 reps with 7.5-lb. dumbbells
Dumbbell or Barbell curls on a Bosu Ball - 15 reps with 18-lb. Body Bar
Ball Tricep Extensions - face-up on a ball, arms over head with a 12-lb. Body Bar.  15 reps hold extension 1-2 seconds.
Ball Sqauts - I LOVE these!  Ball is at your back and against the mirror/wall.  With 7.5-lb. dumbbells sqaut while leaning against the ball (it will roll with you).
That's it - you're done!  It's seems longer/more complicated than it really is.  Print this out, take it to the gym, and give it a shot!  I know you'll love it! :)

Are Directional Lunges The Way To Go?

Lunges are one of the single best ways to tone and strengthen your legs, glutes, knees, ankles, hips, heck even your core gets worked when you do lunges!  But I think most of us lunge forward and back.  WELL let's change it up!  Julie Bobek shows us how to properly perform directional lunges in this video.  And yes, she's wearing the Charlotte Running Tank :).


Julie teaches for Reebok Sport Club/NY and Sports Club LA/NY.  If you are in New York definitely check out one of her classes.  She WILL kick your butt -- in a completely nice way :).

Out and Back Runs - Why They're Important

Ever notice that one side of your body (e.g., ankle, knee) is sore or strained after a run but the other side is fine?  Well it could be a result of running on a sloped roadway.  For drainage purposes roadways are created with a slope towards the outside of the road, which keeps the road from flooding during a rainstorm or melting of snow.  A slope of just 1 to 2%, which may appear almost flat to your naked eye, will deliver uneven stress to your body.
To avoid this uneven stress - especially to your lower extremities - run out and back routes as opposed to loop runs (staying on the same side of the street running in the same direction).  The objective is to keep the impact to your body even on both sides.  Running out and back on the same path (same side of the street on the way out and back) is helpful in doing this whereas loop runs put more stress on one side of the body.
I've been running loop runs for the past few weeks and I noticed an aching or strained feeling on the outside of my outer ankle and knee on one side, and on the inner side of my opposite ankle about 1 mile into my run.  Not thinking too much of the aching, I kept running, and paid the price when I was finished 4 miles later!  Since then I have been running out and backs - out and back on the same side of the street.  Though this type of running delivers even stresses to the body, you still have the uneven impact from running on a sloped roadway.
So those roads that flood during a rainstorm are your best bet for running since they should be flat from side to side! :)

Marathon prep. - Long-Sleeve Running Tee

The world's largest marathon is just around the corner and it's here in New
York City!  Whether you are in the final stages of training for the marathon
or if you find yourself inspired to run your normal route with a bit more
vigor, you are going to need the perfect long-sleeve running tee to keep you
warm as the fall weather is fast approaching.  The Chloe Long Sleeve Tee by
ellasport, is made of moisture-wicking Supplex fabric and features a Coolmax
mesh panel in the back for ultimate breath-ability.  The cut is perfectly
feminine and slimming, and it fits nicely over a running tank or by itself.
The Chloe Long Sleeve Tee is the essential layering piece for fall. You'll
want to wear it everywhere!
The Chloe Long Sleeve Tee is available in Jet Black for $58 at ellasport.com.
It features a contrasting white mesh panel and a bright pink and white logo
uniquely placed on the right sleeve.

Chloe Long Sleeve Running Tee

Another great piece for fall running and other outdoor sweaty pursuits is
the New Power Capris by ellasport.  These are made of an amazing blend of
Tactel and Lycra fabrics, which gives a soft feel while providing moderate
compression to give you an overall sexy, slimming effect.  The shaping seams
down the side make your legs look longer, and a zipped pocket holds your
essentials while you focus on kicking your butt.  The pocket is made with
Coolmax mesh for superior breathe-ability.  The New Power Capris are an
essential piece to any girl's workout wardrobe. You might need two pair!
The New Power Capris are available in Jet Black for $76 on ellasport.com.

New Power Capris by ellasport

Shelter Island 10k - ellasport's Stacey Barron Finishes 1st In Her Age Group!

Saturday June 19th, Shelter Island, NY - ellasport's Stacey Barron finishes first in her age group and 13th overall for females!!!!
It was my first time on Shelter Island in a really long time!  Despite being a native Long Long Islander, I don't get that far out east very often.  It's beautiful with its hilly terrain, quaint towns, and local restaurants.  But I digress - this post is about ANOTHER amazing race finish by Stacey! :)
Before the race, Stacey wasn't happy about the hot temperature and high humidity, but with a 10k finish in under 40 minutes I think she did pretty darn amazing regardless of weather!!  That's a 6:27 minute per mile pace, which, for those of you that run or walk on a treadmill know, is SUPER FREAKIN' FAST!!
The competition was stiff.  Some of the female runners Stacey was racing with included amazing Ethiopian runners and former Olympic medalists!
Below are some pics of super-buff-Stacey from the race.  I want arms like that!!!

Pre-race Warm-up

Jitters At the Start Line

Stacey and Big Brother Shawn :)

Yay 1st Place Age-Group Medal!!

Happy Sweating!
Pam

Marie Claire Write-up on ellasport

I am a bit late writing about this, BUT ellasport was written-up in Marie Claire online!!!  Click here for the article and please pass it along to all your friends and family; we want it to be very popular. :)
I have to admit, it was written by my dear friend Elyse who has been a loyal fan and supporter of ellasport since we started.  Her first ellasport top was the Stanton Sport Tank in Placid Blue. Most recently she's sporting, or I should say Spinning, because she is a die hard Spinner - even has her own Spin bike at home(!!) - the Charlotte Running Tank in Jet Black. I am truly grateful for the friends like Elyse.  Friends that have supported and believed in me from the time ellasport was just a sketch - and not a very good one at that - are honestly what makes life so amazing.  So thank you so very much to my incredibly valued friends.  :)
Pam

Stanton Sport Tank - ellasport

Charlotte Running Tank - ellasport

ellasport's Stacey Barron - Press Release

Stacey Barron ran the NYC Half marathon representing ellasport on March 21, 2010.  She ran it in an AMAZING 1 hour and 22 minutes!!!  This is the press release announcing Stacey as ellasport's sponsored athlete :).   Way to go Stace!!!!!

Brooklyn Native Sponsored by NYC Based Women-Owned Athletic Apparel Company, ellasport inc.
(New York, NY) – ellasport inc., a technical athletic apparel company for women, signed Brooklyn’s own, Stacey Barron, as their first sponsored athlete!  Barron raced on Sunday March 21, 2010 in the New York City Half-Marathon, representing ellasport, and finished with an amazing time of 1:22:57.  That is a six-minute per mile pace!  This impressive time got Barron 8^th place within her age group.

How cute are we wearing matching outfits? ;)

Barron’s running career has just begun.  In fact, 2009 was the first year she actually raced!  Her race time in the Queens Half-Marathon was so fast it qualified her for the New York City Marathon (2010) and the New York City Half-Marathon (2010) without even applying!  There are thousands of people every year that hope and pray they get chosen for these races, but a chosen few get in because their times are so fast; and ellasport’s Stacey Barron is one of them!  Barron’s short history is amazingly impressive:  in the Nike 10k in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, in October 2009 she placed second; the Queens Half-Marathon in September 2009 she placed fourth and in June 2009 she placed first in the 20^th annual Kenneth Dolan Memorial 5K run (Brooklyn), in June 2009!

Pam and Stacey are very happy to be done with the 13.1 miles!

Barron grew up in eastern Long Island in the Village of East Quogue – part of Southampton.  She ran the 100-meter hurdles and played field hockey for Westhampton Beach High School.  She has been a runner ever since but never seriously until now.
Barron is an inspiring example of following your passions and not putting any limits on yourself at any age.  We are honored to have her represent ellasport!  We know she will inspire others to follow their passions and blaze their own path.
Keep our eye out for ellasport’s, Stacey Barron!  She is seriously fast!
# # #
For more information, contact Julie Bobek (juliebobek@gmail.com) for media inquiries, and Pam (pamela@ellasport.com) for apparel inquiries.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 24, 2010
Media Contact:: Julie Bobek – juliebobek@gmail.com
Apparel Inquiries:  Pamela Oelerich – pamela@ellasport.com

Photoshoot for ellasport's New Collection!

What an amazing time I had at the photoshoot for ellasport's newest collection!!  Our photographers, the model, the stylist, and the makeup artist were THE BEST and so much fun to work with.
The new collection will launch online this weekend as soon as Stacey Barron - ellasport's first sponsored athlete - races across the finish line of the NYC Half Marathon in her ellasport gear!!  Good luck Stacey :)
Here's a pic of the crew (minus Julie the stylist and Diana the makeup artist!  They must have left already):
Here's a pic of Tara in the window with the Empire State Building in the background:

Charlotte Running Tank in Jet Black

and Tara looking amazing in the Park Tee!!!

Are You "Skinny Fat"?

Here in New York it's fashion week time of the year!!!  Fellow indoor cycling instructor at the Sports Club LA/NY, Julie Bobek, who is also an amazing personal trainer (check out her AWESOME ARMS!!) shot a video for BeChic Magazine on how to tone-up for the crazy week!  Check it out!
Happy Sweating!
Pam

THANKS PAM!!!!!
-Julie

It's Official - My Own Cycling Class at the Sports Club LA/NY!!!

After the audition, where you get up and teach in front of all the other auditioning instructors - read: akward and stressful - then came the super exciting news that I was selected to become an instructor.  But that doesn't mean you can just have your own class!  You have to sub different classes and get the members to like you and how you teach.  No pressure though ;).  Anyway, after two months of subbing, I have my own class!!!  Wednesday nights at 6:30 at The Sports Club LA/NY on the Upper East Side is mine!!!  And I couldn't be happier. :)
Happy Sweating.
Pam

NYC Half-Marathon Training!

It's official.  My training for the NYC half-marathon has officially begun!  After 7 LONG miles on the treadmill this afternoon, I questioned, yet again, why the heck I signed up for a half-marathon at the end of March in New York!  Read:  it's freezing in New York right now and I hate running in the cold!  Yes, I'm a baby and only like running when it's warm outside, BUT I literally can't breathe when it's cold outside!  Last New Years Eve Rob and I ran the five-mile run in Central Park, which kicks off at midnight.  It was hovering around 0 degrees that night, and I felt like I was running with an elephant on my chest!  I just couldn't get enough air/oxygen into my lungs to run a good pace.  SO  I'm REALLY hoping for a hot March 21, 2010 for the NYC Half this year!!
Here's a pic from last years race, which was on a beautiful hot, humid, sunny day. :)
Happy Sweating!
Pam

Reebok Sports Club/NY's Newest Spin Instructor!

I'm SO EXCITED to report that I was selected to be Reebok Sports Club/NY's newest Spin instructor!!!!  After a couple of months of auditions and interviews, finally I was selected! :)  This gym is seriously the best gym in New York.  I absolutely love it!  It is a place that makes you want to stay and workout.  It has a zen-like yoga and pilates studios, roof-top terrace and a phenomenal pool just to name a few of its amazing amenities.  I'm just as nervous as I am excited to teach there.  Now if I could just get my ellasport gear in their shop...:)
Pam

Hi!  So the Nike Human Race 10K was this passed Saturday and thankfully the rain held off until just after the race!  I ended up finishing in 53:43 despite the official time recorded for me of 54:01, which is actually a PR - on the record anyway.  BUT I ran the 10K in Central Park faster over the summer!!  Too bad that doesn't count :).  AND that was during the summer at the peak of training season.  Now it's nearly impossible to run outside after work because it's so cold and dark here in New York.  I know, excuses, excuses!
I'm proud of two of my volleyball teammates who ran the race and never run!!  One even ran it under an hour.  Congrats Chi and Cyprienne! :)  And sadly I don't have pics of them.  Wasn't in much of a mood for photos unfortunately so this is all I got!

So that was the last race of the season...UNLESS someone talks me into running the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving :).  I love that race but I'm SUCH a baby when it comes to running in the cold!!  We'll see...
Happy Sweating!
Pam

NYC Half-Marathon!

As soon as the NYC Tri was finished I focused on training for the NYC Half-Marathon.  Sadly, my bike and I took way too much time apart.  I think I finally took the race sticker off my bike last weekend, when I went for my first ride after the Tri!
So the day of the half-marathon was SO hot and humid!!  By mile 1 in Central Park I looked around at my fellow runners and everyone was just soaked in sweat, already!  It was my first half-marathon distance run and I think it went well considering I have never been so thirsty and drank so much EVER during a race!  I can't tell you how much time I lost waiting for the people behind the water stations to fill up a copy with Gatorade or water.  I'd grab one cup of each, sip on the Gatorade and dump the water over my head and keep running.   When it's as hot and humid as it was that day, there is nothing like the feel of ice cold water running down your scalp and back.  It gives you this little boost of energy that helps you keep on runnin'.  And that I did for my first 13.1. miles ever :).
Below are some pics from the finish with the ellasport girls :).   We're each wearing different tanks.  From left to right the tanks are: the Chelsea Racerback Tank; the Gramercy Racerback Tank; and the Stanton Sport Tank.
Tell me about your latest race or fun work out!
Happy Sweating!
Pam

NYC Nautica Triathlon A Success!

It was my second time completing the New York City Nautica Triathlon this year and it was such a great race!!  Last year during the run I seriously thought I was just going to melt and/or pass-out and die!  It was 90 degrees and 95% humidity at 4 am.   This year, despite the downpour during transition setup at 4:30 am, it was much better racing weather.
I was able to take six minutes off my run and one minute off of my bike times from last year.  HOWEVER, my transition times were slower than last year!!  I guess I need to practice running in my wetsuit???  Judging from the picture below, maybe I could have picked up the pace during my wetsuit run...seeing as I was able to smile though the Hudson River grime all over my face!! :)  This picture really makes me laugh.


A total time of 2 hours and 56 minutes is ok with me...for this year.  Next year the goal is 2:50!!   With this race behind me for another year there is some level of relief because the pressure to stick with a training schedule is gone. I even drank yesterday!  At the same time I feel a bit lost.  Today is Sunday and I have a gazillion things on the never ending "to-do" list yet I am not sure what to do with myself.  I think I need that weekly bike ride to Nyack in order to get things done when I get home??  I don't know!
I do plan to run in the the New York City Half-Marathon on August 16th...which I am completely not ready for because my ITB injury has kept me from adding enough miles to my run!!!  SO I am not totally off the training hook - nor would I want to be...I think a daily dose of kicking my butt keeps me productive in other areas of life :).
Below are a couple of photos from the race last weekend.
Happy sweating!
Pam