2012 NYRR Colon Cancer Challenge 15k Recap

Yesterday's Colon Cancer Challenge 15k in Central Park was a fun race.  The weather was a bit cooler than ideal for me but at least it wasn't raining!  The course took 1.5 laps around Central Park.  While I train for hills and ran the super hilly Sleepy Hollow Half Marathon last weekend, Central Park presents a unique challenge in that it is almost never flat.  Despite the fact that running down hill feels easier than running up hill, you still uses your muscles differently than when you run on level ground.

Seeing Alek with his "Run All the Miles" sign at various points throughout the course made the hills a bit more manageable!

I finished in 1:25:54 with an average pace of 9:15.  What a difference a year makes!  Last year my average pace was 12:21 per mile.  I felt much better after the race this year even though my quads were a bit sore from the hills.  Its always fun to see training pay off!  You can find all of the race results on the NYRR site.  This is my first of 9 NYRR races that will qualify me for the 2013 NYC marathon.

2011

2012

The playlist I created for yesterday's race wasn't the best. It needed faster more motivating songs toward the middle and finish.

NYRR Colon Cancer Challenge 15k playlist

The 2011 NYRR Colon Cancer Challenge 15k was my first NYRR race.  At the time it was the longest distance I'd ever run.  I listened to an audiobook while running the race.  Since then I've realized that audiobooks during races just don't work.  I get too caught up paying attention to distance, speed, people cheering, and other runners to pay attention to the book.  This year, I'll have a playlist!

Yes, this weekend is a 2 race weekend.  Here's hoping that the forecast for rain is incorrect!

This list is about 1:36:00 long.



Untitled O.A.R.
Some Boys Death Cab For Cutie
This Scene is Dead We Are Scientists
Should I Stay or Should I Go Clash
Sunday Bloody Sunday U2
You Don't Know Me (feat. Regina Spektor) Ben Folds
Cruel to be Kind Letters to Cleo
Latest Disaster Stroke 9
Strawberry Swing Coldplay
Elevation U2
I'm Not Okay (I Promise)  My Chemical Romance
See Ya Atomic Kitten
Cry for You (Radio Mix) September
The One That Got Away Katy Perry
Where The Party At (Remix) So So Def Allstars
On the Floor Jennifer Lopez
Hit 'em Up Style Blu Cantrell
Ride Wit Me Nelly
Paralyzer Finger Eleven
Washin' + Wonderin' Stroke 9
Andy, You're a Star The Killers
Pork and Beans Weezer
Sweet Dreams Eurythmics
Turn It Off The Book Of Mormon Original Broadway Cast
Best of You Foo Fighters
Death Bed Ike

2011 Colon Cancer Challenge 15k

My first race of 2011 was the New York Colon Cancer Challenge 15k.  It fit nicely into my half marathon training plan, being the right distance at the right point in time.  It was the second race I ever ran, and it would be the longest distance that I had run to that date.

Prior to the race, I had been training on the indoor track at the McBurney YMCA.  My training did not prepare me for Central Park's hills.  The first lap of the race felt all right but the second lap was pretty tough.  Around mile 8 another runner encouraged me, helping me get through the final stretch.  When I finished I was excited to see that my sister, Rebecca, had come to cheer me on.

I finished in 1:54:53 with an average mile of 12:21.  I was pleased with myself with the distance but incredibly tired.  Finishing 9.3 miles at the end of March gave me confidence that I could work up to 13.1 in time for the Brooklyn Half Marathon at the end of May!  Afterwards I went for a celebratory breakfast with Alek and Rebecca.

First post!

I started running seriously in January 2011.  I started with the goal of running my first half marathon in May of 2011.  I had initially planned to take a break from running after finishing the half marathon but I missed running after just one week.  So I signed up for another half marathon and then I signed up for a full marathon - and I'm just 8 days out (Philadelphia, 11/20).

Why another running blog?  I've made a lot of progress over the past 11 months. I've also learned a lot of stuff that is worth sharing.  Finally, I'm so excited after each of my races and I don't want to lose that.  As time goes by, I think the races will all blend together.  But, each race is different - and all are an accomplishment so I want to document them as they occur (horrible race photos included)!

Welcome to my new running blog.  I have some ambitious goals that I'll share after I finish the Philadelphia Marathon next week (if I think I'm still up for them)!

Me finishing the New York Colon Cancer Challenge March 27, 2011