Sweet Blog O'Mine

Category: Sports

  • Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming*

    This morning I headed out to Coney Island for a practice open water swim followed by a run.  The triathlon is a month out, and I've been swimming regularly and confidently, but MAN — when I put on that wetsuit and get in the open water with a pack of people, it's like I totally forget how to swim.  My stroke is off, my breathing is off, I never get into a rhythm, and I feel like the wetsuit is so confining around my chest and neck that I can't get enough air. The good news is that today was helpful.  I got to practice feeling that way, working through it, and ultimately getting some decent swimming in once I calm down.  The moral of the story is that I am going to pack in the swimming and running for the next month (I'm pretty comfortable/confident on the bike), and will most definitely be at the next open water swim practice on July 10th.  I plan to make a day of it — who wants to meet me out there?  After my workout, of course — you can sleep in a bit.

    * I adore Finding Nemo!

  • Triathlon Training Woes

    I hit a bit of a rough patch on my training this weekend.  Nothing major, mind you.  I started out strong with a mile swim in just under 40 minutes on Friday, then woke up early for a BRICK (bike/run back to back) workout.  Sure enough, after crossing 72nd Street and arriving in the park, I noticed that my rear tire was flat.  Grr.  I changed it with only some minor struggle, but that cut into my biking time and I was only able to do one loop around the park in our allotted time.  Back at Riverside Park for the run portion of the workout, I was doing okay for a while, and even remembered to switch my Runkeeper program on my phone (which has a GPS to track workouts) from "cycling" to "running," but then I noticed that the GPS wasn't working.  Finally, at about the 30 minute mark, my lower back started to hurt.  A lot.  This is the second time this has happened during a longish run, and it's not pleasant. 

    On my way home, I dropped the bike off for a tune-up and stopped at Jackrabbit to purchase a new pair of running shoes — my old ones are over a year old, which I believe is what's causing the back pain.  Trying out the new ones (Brooks!) tonight.

    Also, got a huge kick out of this video — I think it's part of my open water swim workout this Saturday at Coney Island.  Don't forget to donate!!!

  • Working for the Weekend

    Sooo looking forward to the weekend!  Dinner w/Jenn D., Carrie, and the Lovely Miss Katie, then early to bed for tomorrow's BRICK workout at 7:30 (eek!).  But — my reward is a trip to Blue Hill at Stone Barns with @daisy17 and @cocktailspirit. And finally, a quiet Sunday with a light run or yoga, cleaning up and reading the paper before a lobster bake at Ditch Plains with the First Saturday ladies.

    PS — did my first full mile swim this season; a few more over the next five weeks to be sure I survive the mighty Hudson on 7/18.  Please donate!!

  • Question of the Day

    Fiona

    I was asked by a (female) work colleague, the following question, verbatim: "How do you run the triathlon with such big tits?"  Good question, Marnie!  This sports bra, by Moving Comfort, is awesome, and I consider it to be my secret weapon during training.  It has adjustable velcro shoulder straps that eliminate any/all bounce while running.  I've always been a bit worried, however, about how that velcro might hold up during the swim portion.  I'll have to do a little experimentation over the next few weeks to see if the velcro stays tight both during the swim (and see how comfortable it is to swim in), and if it can then handle the run while still wet.  During my past races I've worn a Champion Double Dry Seamless sports bra with a tri top over it; the tri top (like this one) has a built in shelf bra that helps out a bit as the Champion bra isn't as supportive as the Moving Comfort one.  The key — test out all your clothing BEFORE race day!!

  • Derby Day

    The56Julep_small Last year I missed the Derby for reasons I won’t bother getting into, but this year I am all over the juleps.  My go-to julep can be found at Blue Smoke, and they make great ones at Eleven Madison Park (at least during the Big Apple BBQ Block Party).  I usually drink juleps w/my good friend Rob, who is currently living in London, so I will be sure to drink at least one in his honor — I’ll be at Rye House for their Derby Party (after a bike ride and a run, of course).


    The following julep recipe comes from Wild Turkey Bourbon Master Distiller Jimmy Russell.  He’s been in the industry for 56 years and has refined his recipe over the years to come up with his version of the perfect mint julep — make a few and drink them regardless of whether or not you actually watch the race!


    THE 56 JULEP
    2.5 oz. Wild Turkey 101
    3 sprigs of mint (six to eight mature-sized leaves)
    1.5 teaspoons brown sugar
    .5 cup crushed ice


    In a traditional silver julep cup or double old fashioned glass, muddle two sprigs of mint with the brown sugar and one ounce of Wild Turkey 101 for a few minutes, crushing the mint leaves with a spoon. Add the crushed ice, the remaining bourbon, and garnish with sprig of mint.


    In other julep fun, watch Jason Littrell make a mint julep in this video.

  • Back on the Bike

    Just got back from a 19.5 mile bike ride this morning.  Man, getting out the door at 7:30 is rough for me — weekday or weekend — but I did it.  I'm doing my part, now it's time to do yours.  Donate to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society and support my triathlon training!!

  • Tri Training in Training

    So this week was supposed to be my first real triathlon training week.  As you may know, I'm doing my third NYC Triathlon on July 18th.  I did okay on the running and biking front, but still haven't quite made it into the pool yet.  Next week, I swear — no excuses.  I'm also starting to feel like regular yoga would be a welcome addition to the mix, as my flexibility isn't great these days.  Plus, it's good for stress-relief, which I can always use. 

    That said, I have already started fundraising, and have gotten a few early bird donations (which, in addition to providing much-needed services to those dealing with leukemia and lymphoma, make me extra-motivated — I can't let my donors down) — thanks to those who have donated so far!

    Want to donate?  Please do!  More information here.

  • The Mind/Body Connection

    This has been a bit of a rough month for me.  First, I was running around like a crazy person, which led me to get run down.  Next, I got sick with what was most likely a variation of the flu.  Stubborn (and/or stupid) as I am, I didn't take enough time off and as a result, I was sick for probably twice as long as I might have been if I had taken good care of myself.  During all of this time, my workout schedule was utterly destroyed.  As recently as this past Saturday, in an attempt to exercise again, I nearly coughed up a lung — not pretty. 

    I'm slowly returning to my normal workout schedule — roughly 5 days a week — and I couldn't be happier.  It helps me sleep better, focus more, and it calms me down and keeps me sane.  My apologies to any who have dealt with me over the past few weeks if I've seemed, well, slightly off. 

  • Saturday’s Adventure


    The pothole

    Lauren, Frank and I went off on another one of our adventures on Saturday when we took this rather circuitous bike route to City Island. We had a somewhat auspicious start, arriving on the West Side bike path just as the entire rescue forces of Manhattan had arrived to respond to the midair collision that had occurred moments before. Continuing up the path we witnessed a bike crash right in front of us. Next, Frank was nearly felled by an errant softball, and, for the coup de grace, I had my very first bike accident. First of all, I'm fine. There was no traffic involved. I was felled by this evil pothole (it's hard to tell quite how big it was — not sure how I missed it), and have some road rash on my left side and some very colorful bruises. After being tended to and cleaned off, I continued the rest of the ride, and we enjoyed heaping plates of seafood at Johnny's Reef, which tasted all the better for the 30 miles we had traveled to get it. You can find the pictures here.

  • A Magical Machine

    It's kind of amazing what the human body can do with a little dedication.  My friend Heidi lent me Haruki Murakami's What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, where he describes running an ultra-marathon — a sixty-two mile race — during which he literally feels that his body is a machine, just going through the motions to get him to the finish line. 

    As for me, a theatre and stage band geek has become a triathlete — not a minor transformation.  I'm also amazed at my body's uncanny timing.  I am currently fighting a fairly nasty cold, complete with a runny nose, sore throat, and low-grade fever, but I am so very thankful that it came this week rather than last week, right before my race.  Maybe this is my body's way of letting go of all the stress I've put it through over the past few months — my friend Erika tells me that it's fairly common for marathon runners to get sick right after their races.  I would chalk it up to picking up something during my dip in the Hudson, except that I know a handful of others who seem to be fighting the same cold this week (feel better, gang!), and none of them did the triathlon.  Whatever the reason, I thank you, magical machine, for waiting until after the tri.