My year in running

I started my journey really last November, but it was my joining Team in Training for the spring season in January that really changed my life. I was introduced to running using intervals and life took off from there including my first triathlon experience. I know the roads & hills of Central Park as well as the Hudson Greenway. I have run across bridges including GW, Brooklyn & Randalls' Island and run on islands... Manhattan, Randalls Island, Roosevelt Island, in Walt Disney World and lots of other fun places while traveling... San Diego, Denver, Sacramento and more. I have run in a tutu and wings, all bundled up for winter and super early and in a lot less for summer. I ran 5 half marathons, 2-10ks, 1-5k, 1-4 milers and completed one sprint triathlon. Some races were faster and some were slower. Some were in the heat and humidity and some were nice and chilly. All had amazing moments and tough ones.

• Fastest half marathon: Boston BAA 2:50:17
• Most challenging (TIE): Chanukkah Half - "running" into the wind for half a race is killer & Iron Girl - I finished but just barely
• Coolest route: Wine & Dine Half at Disney World - ran through Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios with the Christmas lights and Epcot
• Most Historical: New York Mini 10K - all women for more than 40 years

Here is a recap of my major events for the year:

I also want to thank everyone who has helped me on my journey: from my first pace leader Jessica to my amazing coaches Barb, Ellen and Christine plus so many more coaches & training partners: Wendy, Laura, Kit, Sara, Maria, Terri, Rachel, Sarah (sorry to those I did not list) from Team in Training; from all who have cheered me on both in person, Jonathan (who flew to MCO from SAN just to cheer on his sister at her first half marathon), Corie (the best sign maker ever who also got up at long before the crack of dawn to drive me to my first triathlon & came to Disney for fun and cheering) & Mark (who drove up to see me in my first triathlon) to all those who have cheered me on virtually not just for races but also for training runs; also to my amazing online running groups (PP and MRTT) - many ladies whom I have now met in person and who are wonderful people and new friends and who I got to run with in different locals: Andrea, Dorie, Rosie, Amanda, Judi, Nancy, Sarah, Beth and more I am forgetting right now.

Next up... my goals for 2014! What are your goals?

BAA Half... one week later

Last Sunday, I ran the Boston Athletic Association's half marathon. [Yes the same people who put on the Boston marathon.] It was an amazing experience all the way around.

Saturday after my bus ride up, I got to have dinner with 2 wonderful women from my online running group. It was my first time meeting them in person which was great. I did not sleep well that night, not actually falling asleep till 3:30 am, but thankfully my good night before and the adrenaline helped.

I had a great race. Waking not too early since I was only 1 mile away from the start and having my breakfast. I headed over to the race start and found ran into my friends as I checked my bag and picked up my race t-shirt.

The race was an amazing experience. Weather cool but good. I got into a groove and really was able to hold my effort level pretty steady through the race in the end. First half was a bit faster due to the downhills. Was a bit worried after mile 8 if I could keep it up, but was running near a couple of women and wound up finish the last couple of miles with one of them. We kept each other going especially through those back uphills in the out & back course through the end. We did get a quick run through the Franklin Park Zoo before the race ended on the track at the stadium. Nice and cushy ending.

Through the Zoo

Almost Finished

My finish time 2:50:17 beat my previous PR by over 20 minutes. And my pretty medal!

I credit my wonderful coaches and training partners with helping me to up my fitness level through the season. Now a few down weeks and then off to Disney for Wine & Dine which I am running for Team in Training. Please consider supporting my efforts: http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/advent14/dvorageller

My Running/Triathlon Inspiration

My brother Jonathan and I did our first race ever together back in 1999 the San Diego Rock n Roll Marathon in memory of our mom with Team in Training. For me it was a one time deal back then... for him the start on a running journey. He (and a few friends of his) inspired me to start walking while we all stuck together post Marine Corps Marathon 2012 in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. This led to me rejoining TNT and starting to run/walk, finishing 2 half marathons and a 10k and now signed up for a sprint triathlon and 2 more half marathons.

I am really writing this post to share what he wrote about the last 2 years of his journey culminating in the Lake Placid Ironman this coming Sunday. I can't wait to be there to cheer him on!


"I just got back from an easy 4 mile run. It was surprisingly (to me) emotional. It was my last run in San Diego before I leave for NY for my first Ironman Triathlon.

That triathlon, incidentally, is the culmination of a two year plan i set in place in the summer of 2011. Many of you know parts of my plan, some may even know most or all of it. However, I feel I want to take a moment and catalog it in a journal-style post.

After years of mild weight gain and sub-par performances at several endurance races I decided that I needed to change the way i was doing things. This was not a quick fix but an eventual change over the next two years. I suppose I should mention that the subsequent years would bring me to 40. My plan was simply this: There were to goal races that I wanted to not just accomplish but do so in a fashion that was befitting the capabilities i knew I was capable of achieving. The first race was the Trans Rockies Run last year. The second race was an Ironman Triathlon as a 40th birthday celebration.

Well, starting after Thanksgiving 2011, I went on a bit of a fad diet, but for me it was more of an inflection point. A point in time i could refer to and say, "This is when it all started." I lost almost 20 pounds. My running improved almost instantly. I was able to run farther and faster than i'd been able to in years.

Then I went on to run over 200 consecutive days leading up to the aforementioned Trans Rockies Run. If you missed that it was a 6 day multi-stage running race through the Rocky Mountains. I ran this with my good friend Tom. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life!

After that I decided to throw in a Marathon in October of 2012. I was able to PR (personal record) the marathon by nearly 5 minutes. I backed off my training for the rest of the year so I could have a fresh start in January 2013. I started working with a coach who gave me a weekly schedule to train for the Ironman.

Over the course of 2013 I have run nearly 500 miles, Biked over 1700 miles, and swum over 75 miles, all in preparation for my next race, the 2013 Ironman Lake Placid. For those who don't know, this is a one day event entailing a 2.4 miles swim, followed by a 112 mile bike ride, followed by a 26.2 mile run, all within a 17 hour time limit.

It's coming to it. I leave for NY tomorrow evening. It's been a long road, but well worth it. I get to share my day on Sunday with my sis Dvora and our friends Corie and the Lapcevich family. For those of you who couldn't make the journey to Lake Placid, I hope you'll still follow me on race day (I'll send more info on that later).

Thanks for 'listening'."

Jonathan Geller

The Perfect Commute - take 2

So apparently, technology failed me earlier this week and this post did not happen as it should have. Since I am still thinking about it, I will post again.

Monday morning, I experienced the perfect commute to work. The train car was full but not too full, the AC was going, but not too much and the noise was only the hum of the AC and the sounds of the train riding on its rails. It was a beautiful Monday morning to crochet and meditate. No one had music that was playing too loud or conversations that were either. This beautiful atmosphere lasted all the way from 207th street to 42nd street... only 2 stops from where I was getting off.

Ahhhhh the bliss.


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Some New Sporty Goals

Well I have definitely been bit by the bug...

besides running, I will now be adding biking and swimming to my training regime. I have signed up for the Iron Girl Sprint Triathlon in Sandy Hook, NJ. This event will take place on Sep 8th and training starts NOW!

Since I am not quite a bike owner again in NYC, I will start my bike training by checking out spin classes around the city. First up will be Soul Cycle (hopefully tomorrow). Swimming will be done at Riverbank State Park (around the 130s on the west side). They have open lane hours early in the morning so this will be a pre-work thing twice a week.

To help me in this venture, I had the opportunity to check out some great tri shops in San Diego while visiting my brother. I am also now the proud owner of 2 pairs of tri shorts and one tri top. Plus a pair of goggles.

On the running front, I have committed to another season with Team in Training doing a "Choose Your Own Adventure" which for me will be the Wine & Dine Half Marathon in Disney World on November 9th. This race is run at night (10 pm start)... starting at the ESPN Sports Zone and running to and through Animal Kingdom and onto Hollywood Studios ending just outside Epcot! The race is then followed by a Finish Line Party in Epcot (Food & Wine Festival) till 4 am. I am so excited for this.

I will be hosting a couple of raffles as well as selling some fun hair ties so keep a look out here for more information. If you would like to support me by donating, check out my page.

Running in my Tutu

The saying goes nothing new on race day and with my first half marathon... the Disney Princess just 11 days away, it was time to try out the tutu.

This was my project on the snowy cold evening of Saturday past. My pretty purple and sparkly glitter pink tulle... there is pink glitter everywhere!! I want to give a shout out to Rookie for the easy no-sew tutu directions... found here

I am ready to race, but although have tried the outfit leggings and t-shirt at the gym... not in the tutu. 

My brother Jonathan said go for it... wear it on the subway too. You live in NYC and no one will say a thing. Well of course I still needed to sew on the snap so I did not wear it out, I did wear it home... leaving a trail of pink glitter behind! Who knew how much fun it would be to wear to TNT group training. It was :) and I fit right in with the Mardi Gras costume wearing folks too!

Here I am post run... thankfully I will not be wearing polar fleece at the race in Orlando... static cling.

Please consider supporting my efforts to fundraise for continued cancer research and support through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as I continue my training post Disney for the Nike Women's Half Marathon on their behalf. It is the thought not the amount that I will treasure. 

http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/nikewhlf13/dvorageller

Halfmarathonitis

I seem to have developed a new sickness (thanks to Jonathan and Claudia L and my cousin Ilene)!! It is called halfmarathonitis. Its symptoms cause me to consume mass amounts of Gatorade, dress in spandex and polar fleece, and give up sleep on the weekends and early mornings. I have been on a strict regimen of run/walking and yoga as well as healthy eating to overcome my sickness. I have 2 half marathons ahead and I feel the need to join more every day so clearly I am still ill.

While haldmarathonitis is not fatal, I have decided that I want to use it to help thousands who are fighting a deadly disease. I am training again (remember San Diego Rock N Roll Marathon in 1999) with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training to help raise money for research and patient services for people with leukemia, Hodgkins and non-Hodgkins lymphoma, and myeloma.

I am racing in memory of my mom as well as for the many honored patients, survivors and loved ones who inspire us each group training sessions.

I have been training for the last couple of months on my own and joining TNT has helped bring it to a new level. I am out in the cold NYC weather working to get stronger and faster, but I need your help to reach my other goal of raising $2700 by April 1, 2013. All donations are 100% tax deductible and every dollar will be appreciated. You can make donations online or by check.

Donate online at: http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/nikewhlf13/dvorageller

If you would like to make a donation in someone's honor who is fighting or lost their fight to cancer, I would be honored to add their name to my jersey.

Thank you for your support!

Love,

Dvora Geller

If you would like to know how I am doing with my training, please watch my blog, email or watch my runs on Facebook.

Training in the cold

I love the training I have been doing to prepare for a couple of half marathons. I especially now love Tuesdays and Saturdays when I do group trainings with Team in Training... except today. Today I had to choose between the pleasure of running with buddies and not freezing in 18 degree temps. Well actually I was more worried about not breathing so well. I missed my buddies, but managed a decent workout in the gym... on the treadmill which I don't mind for a workout but really detest for a training run (yes they are very different).

Saturday, you can bet I will be outside, even if its cold to train with the group. I am working to get stronger and faster and even hoping to volunteer with Team in Training for a 10K in June. I would love it if you can support my efforts to use my running to help thousands who are fighting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. I am working hard to raise $2700 by April 1. All donations are 100% tax deductible. You can make a donation here: http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/nikewhlf13/dvorageller

Thanks for your support! Follow my progress here and on Facebook.

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Self inflicted subway trauma

Twice this weekend I have had the longest subway rides home ever. I wish I could blame the MTA and their crazy weekend schedules but this time that would be unfair. No instead in very atypical fashion, I have gotten on the wrong train... not once (ok I could say I was not paying careful attention) but TWICE in 2 days. Last night I heard express train and hopped on and was well in the Bronx before I realized oops wrong express train. That time did not require a total return to my starting point but today... I was a good way to JFK before I realized my mistake so now finally an extra hour later, I am almost home (I will be by the time this gets posted). At least today I got in some prime knitting time. :/

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