10/10/10 Nike Night Run 10K

Another year has passed and here I am again. Fitter than last year, with good running shoes and the right spirit. Knowing what lies ahead of me. Or maybe not?

Battling all summer terrible stomach cramps which cut my marathon training rather short, I wasn't sure, I'll be able to run this 10K the way I wanted. But as we say in Switzerland "Probiere gaht ueber studiere" (trying beats thinking) and so there I was at 6:30pm in the drizzling rain, standing with over 10,000 others, waiting for the race to start.

Just like last year, they had a DJ and some very sporty people to get us warmed up. Now I am all game for warming up and stretching, but I don't believe in this "jumping around and wasting my energy pre-race". Never worked for me. I stretched on the side just as I do every day during my training. I got some water, keeping in mind that the first water station is 3.5K away and I might need a bit of fluid before. The temperature dropped quite a bit over the last few days, which made it a great eve to run.

The organizer announced that they are going to have two starts. One for the faster pace groups and afterwards for the slower ones (which would include me... I am still a slow runner). Unfortunately just like the other year, they don't check who's entering the start area, so after the fast ones went off, all the others just mixed. Having about 1000 people around you that run a slower pace is not exactly what you're aiming for if you wanna go faster than last year. All in all I had about 5000 runners ahead of me and 5000 "on my back". 

Crossing the starting line, I knew that I have to be very careful and not go too fast. Well that would not have been possible anyway with all the "traffic". I was lucky to make it without bruises to 3K. I lost a lot of time till 5K (pace of around 7min/k) and tried to overtake as many as possible but with so many people running more or less the same pace, it's really hard to do so. I got up some speed between 5 and 7K and was in a great mood. The funniest thing that happened to me getting closer to 7K was the thought of "oh no... it's over soon" lol.. ok THIS NEVER happened to me before in a race. I guess that's a good sign. Unfortunately, getting closer to the end, passing 8K the space to run got less (narrow street and a lot of runners/ walkers) and trying to get around them does take a lot of energy. I did get slightly frustrated by the "hold up" and somehow lost my speed, unfortunately. I did try to speed up getting closer to the finish line with a bit of an unsuccessful sprint but I did cross the finish line with a smile and no pain what so ever.

Unlike the previous year, we received water on our way "out" and got our medal ("I am a Night Runner" lol JEAH! I am!!!) I even managed to get an ice cream, which last year I somehow missed and almost fainted from lack of sugar. I felt great and of course, once most people finished running, it really started pouring down on us. (If you wonder.. yes.. during the race, the rain stopped.... sheeesh.. sooo typical haha).

Lessons I've learned from last year's race (and the TLV 10K in May): 

• Do not run too fast at the beginning (well it wasn't possible anyways... lol) 
• Stay focused, run your pace and don't let silly people who run super fast and overtake you lead you up to something that's not good for you
• Don't ever stop and walk, just keep running.. just keep running, running, running... lalalalaaa
• Keep an eye open to all sides... people who are faster don't care, they bump into you and you are the one getting hurt
• Keep an eye open to all sides... people who are slower don't care, they won't move, so you have to find the fastest way around them
• Enjoy the run, it only last an hour (+/-) and the feeling of running with over 10,000 others is great.
• Keep smiling, you never know when they make a picture and where that picture might show up later on.... ;) 
• Don't take those runs too serious, have fun, learn, get into the groove and go with the flow

All in all it was a great experience. Unlike last year, where I was forced to walk most of the race, was overtaking by just about every single runner, buuhuu and ended up feeling super sick and had both feed covered in blood from bruised toes, this year, I stayed injury free, felt great after the race (I was craving pizza lol) and enjoyed the atmosphere around me.

I know I can go faster but this was just not the race to prove it. There will be others, with less runners and more space where I can speed up. But I'd say it's a great race to get the feeling of "running in a huge crowd" and how to manage not to out-power yourself too fast. 

Run Stats:

2009: 

Time: ~ 1:30:00

Age Group: 1354 of 1798 (till age 39)

Total Rank: 9000 of 9387 (at least it's a cool rank # lol)

2010:

Time: 1:11:08

Females:  1800 of 3239 (no age group result so far)

Total Rank: 8810 of 10952 (3239 Women / 7713 men)

I can do better, but I am pretty proud of how far I got in a year. (and if you think about it.. I left 1400 girls behind me... so I like to think of all the girls beating me last year .. are now left behind.. lmao) 




One impressive fact: 


There were over 10,000 runners last night in a city with around 600,000 people living, in a country with around 7,000,000 citizens. This is very impressive if you compare to the NYC Marathon for example where around 45,000 run, the city (and surroundings) are around 8,000,000 and people from all over the world actually participate, whereas last night is was mostly Israelis. ;) It's most certainly the even of the year in Israel!!! Can't wait for next year ;)

It's been over a month...

since I started training for my first full marathon. With the help of my "Koach" Kenneth Williams (FB: www.facebook.com/marathonkoach) (Twitter: www.twitter.com/MarathonKoach) I started my adventure to get fit for the Tel Aviv Marathon April 8th, 2011 on June 7th 2010.

My Koach was a bit worried that I might get bored during the long time till the marathon but I'm so not worried.... actually today I looked at my ticker and it said 8 months, 4 weeks and 1 day.... and THAT scared me... ahhh only 8 more months.

I have been battling some health issues during the last few weeks. Mostly hormonal ones. I am fighting PCOS for 17 years now and unfortunately it still has it up and downs and I felt like I'm on a roller-coaster straight down to hell the last two months.

In May I decided to go back on birth-control... bad bad bad decision... after trying most of the things on the market, I went for the Nuvaring. Honest to G-D I thought I'm going to die. My significant other wasn't much of a help either, telling me to just take it out and that's it. Yeah sure, I'm going to mess up my health AND my cycle.. no way! So I suffered for 3 weeks and when I could finally get rid of the ring, I started to feel like a mensch again. But of course the problem wasn't over then. I feared that my bleeding the coming month would be bad, and I even stayed home for a day due to the cramps and due to a summer flue. (some germs in the office I guess mixed with me sleeping with an open window..).

I also had some problems with my right leg. Running over an hour on concrete was a wee bit too much for my leg and my Koach was concerned, I might have some leg injury. So being a good student, I went to see my doc who told me that my leg is fine but I might consider running more on the beach.

So this is what I'm trying to do. Taking into account, how tiny Tel Aviv is, running my 7 miles takes me all the way up north and then back to Bat Yam (the next city) and back (about 4 mi on the beach)...

(I will literately run out of space once I have to run 20 miles LMAO) Yes... another sign why I should move to a bigger country... such as the USA ;) hihi

When I decided to get ready for a marathon, my "bf" wasn't too happy about it. He started telling me, that I'm not 17 any more and can't just do such a thing. And thinking of finishing an Ironman is anyway completely ludicrous. On the other hand he tells me, that he stands behind my decisions no matter what and will support me, he's just concerned for my health... hihi.. I mean.. yes.. it's cute, but there is nothing he needs to worry about. I'm a big girl.. just as he pointed out, I'm not 17 anymore.... I know what I'm doing and I do it not only with my body (as I did at the age of 17) but with my brains too.

After last year's disaster 10K Human Race (Nike Nite Run Tel Aviv), which I finished in 1:30!!! (don't ask).. with blood in my shoes and bruised toes (that I'm still recovering from.. almost there.. almost there), I took a long break from running. I only got back mid March and "trained" for the 10K Tel Aviv Urban Race (Part of the Tel Aviv Marathon). I trained 7 weeks and finished in 1:08 without blood in my shoes. I wasn't really happy with my time but I never once stopped to walk.. I "ran" everything. So yes, I was the slowest of our Office Group but I was also the only girl from the office that at the end did show up and ran. I'd say, not too shabby. :)

After the race, I decided to go for the whole distance. I was twittering around and somehow found my Koach. I loved his Running Tips and so I followed him and he started following me and then he offered me free online coaching for my first marathon. I was thrilled.

Two weeks ago, trying to get used to the heat in Israel, I decided to go for an early run. My Koach thought, that was a good idea and his email to me the day before was: Get your tired ass out of the bed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And so I did. The answer from my "bf" was "I hate your coach"... lol.. I guess... me Koach and I are on the right track then. ;)

But going for a run in the AM when you start getting some sort of flue, might not have been the best of ideas. Now I'm someone who thinks "if I ignore the pain or the 'feeling sick part' it will go away" didn't work out this time. I got really sick and battled for most of this week with it. :(

Tomorrow I'm giving myself the last "free" day and then I'm off running again. Hey.. I missed a WHOLE WEEK of training.. sheeeesh... terrible...

Yesterday I came across another "Cyster's" Blog http://www.weightinvain.com/ (I also follow her on twitter @weightinvain)  She has a section in her blog "why we run" and I started to think, why do we? We had this discussion the other day on twitter... that we all think (while we run/race) WHY... WHY ON EARTH AM I DOING THAT??? and as soon as the race is over.. we think "hey.. that was fun... what's next!". A non-runner will never understand and a runner/ biker / swimmer (or any other athlete) will never be able to explain why we put ourselves through this "agony" over and over again. After all, you race once, you KNOW how much you "suffer", so why do it again?

Think of it this way. You have something really super yummie to eat.. you eat too much and have a stomach ache... well you KNEW this would happen.... and yes.. you already know.. it will happen again. Same goes for sport. We are addicted and can't help it.

For me, there is even more than the "masochistic" pain I inflict upon myself over and over again. I have something to prove. More to myself than others but of course "others" are involved too. When I was young, I was super sporty and nothing and no one could stop me. Or so I thought. But unfortunately something did stop me at some point with most of the competitive sports I've done. May it be a person or time or money, but I was never able to go "all the way". Well I'm still not there yet. Due to different reasons. But I do know, that I have time and the power and the will. I take it step by step.

So I decided, to speed up and finally get over with the marathon. (I believe this to be the hardest part during the Tri and most certainly during an IM). I was a runner as a kid. (I did 5K in 21 when I was 8!!!, now I can only dream of those kind of times). I always believed, that running will come back easy, but it doesn't and it will take a great deal to come back. It will be harder, more painful and take more time to get back into it, than the swimming and biking together. So this is the first thing I concentrate.

I'm so grateful to have a Koach who believes in me and who is mentally supporting me. I am also happy, that the office decided to get together with a coach once a week to run. I might be the slowest at the beginning but I do believe what my Koach told me: You will be fine with the office crew.  You will likely be kicking butt very soon! J

He is after all my Koach and knows best ;) hihi

So.. here are some reasons why I run:

• I have a lot to prove to myself and others
• I feel like I owe it to myself and my body to get into shape again and run faster than the wind
• For once in my life, I wanna say:" no one could stop me, I wanted it and I did it"
• It's healthy
• I wanna make my Koach proud!!!
• I wanna make myself proud!
• I wanna prove my bf wrong!!! ("I CAN'T" is NOT in my vocabulary!!!)
• I'd like to inspire others to go after their dreams
• When I'm old and wrinkly I'd like to tell my grandkids, what a "super-woman" I was when I was young(er) and hope they will follow in my footstep and be hopefully sooo much better than me
• I wanna look into the mirror and say "you believed in yourself and you did it girl and you can be super proud of yourself for that"
• I'm not going down without a fight
• I'd love to wear a t-shirt that says "I might be 20 years older than you, but I'll kick your ass during the marathon" ;) hihi

So, Monday I'll be back training. I do feel much better... pumped with tons of vitamins (I just looove Mango and Passion-fruit) and tons of chocolate (that makes me happy)

I have a lot of new songs on my MP3 and I'm ready. After all, not even 9 more months to go and I wanna cross that finish line with a smile on my face!!!

And after that.... The Sky's the Limit!!! wooooooooohoooooooooooooooooo

Another month

Just another month till my first 10K run this year and nope, I am NOT in shape at all. Maybe it's because I was forced to take such a long break (6 months of no running what so ever) or maybe it's because I'm getting older (gosh.. now THAT's a scary thought).


When I think back to my youth, age 8 or 9, going on holidays to my grandfather, I loved running. I ran every single day around the lake of St. Moritz. Once around the lake are about 5K ( 3 Miles) and I ran it in 21 minutes. Looking back at this time and my age, I am not really able to figure out, how on earth I was able to run such a fast time and yet, I do have to say, that as a kid, I had tons of energy and was always on the move.

So it come with no surprise, that I am really disappointed with the times I run right now. 5K in 32 - 35 minutes, buuuhuuu. What happened? Where did the speed go? Is it really just age or did something else happen? No matter how I look at it, I can't figure out. Yes I still have the killer instinct... I still wanna be the fastest and give 110% and rather die than give up but something IS missing. Could I only put my finger on it.

Of course I have more weight to carry but I am also much stronger than over 20 years ago. Yes, I do have troubles with my feet and my back but that doesn't stop me from working out. I swim (which I didn't do properly as a kid) and I bike (ok I did that like crazy as a teenager too) and I just try to work out smarter with a plan. As a kid I didn't care, I just put on my gear and went to work out, was it running, horseback riding, snowboarding or the weekly youth- workout Wednesday afternoon. Maybe it is all in my head. Because I expect a lot of myself, have dreams and goals and I do care too much, that I put too much pressure on me? What if I wouldn't give a damn? Would that change my workout, my performance, could I go faster and push myself over the "limit"? As a kid, there was no such thing as "limit".. The sky was wide open and I knew, if I only believe, I can do anything. Getting older and growing "mature" (which I don't think I am fully there yet, thank G-D hahaha.. I still have my silly moments), I fear, that I kinda lost my spirit.

So I am going to set myself a "goal" for next week... run like a was a kid again... not worrying what others around me think or do... just do my thing.. run as fast as I can and most important.. have FUN... because it was fun as a kid .. and it still is... I feel great after the workouts.. when I see that I can actually accomplish so much in such a short time. I still have the thrive. I still have the power and the will and I know that my mental strength is there too... just need to re-discover it. My physical strength was never the problem. I get in shape super fast.

The first day running hurt.. but only three weeks into training of the 10K I ran it under 60 minutes.... I'd say.. for someone who's been out for so long, that's pretty good... so I know.. I have it in me.. I know I can run the 10K in 40-45 minutes... if I only believe in myself... and find the right pace.
Well I am off running and next week I finally go to the gym again and spend more time in the water too. I want to do an open water 1K (just for fun) in about a week. It's a good cause. In Memory of Nadav.

I still have huge goals... huge dreams... and I know a lot

Tel Aviv Marathon 10K

Can't believe it but I'm finally running again. Going to run the 10K in 7 weeks, May 14, 2010!!! Two weeks ago, I went to buy new running shoes and trust me, that was anything but easy. My feet are still pretty much in pain when in running shoes. So I decided to buy Adidas size 7 (yup... half a size bigger than usual.. and Adidas is pretty wide, so my Halux doesn't hurt. Really love those shoes.

Since I got the shoes, I am running almost daily and I also walk to and from work which is another 10K every day. Going to the pool when ever I can too and after trying out the pool at the Andromeda Hill, I have to say... I soooo love Salt Water Pools so much more than Chlorine Water.. lol... 

Right now I am looking for a gym to get my weight training done too. Just to make this absolutely clear... I HATE the gym LOL... I checked out Holmes Place, the good thing, it's in the same building as my office, so I can go before or right after work but the bad thing, it's super expensive. The gym at my pool is not that pro and it's not really close to my place but the pool is better and it's just half the price of Holmes Place. Pretty tricky... ;)

Well first thing I have to do now, is fixing my bicycle, will make loads of things easier and I get my "TRI" together... hahah

Oh and I got an amazing run buddy. Super happy about that and highly motivated.

Alright, first thing's first... getting fit for the run... figuring out about the gym and get my bike fixed... and then??? Well there is an open water swim and of May 1.5K or 5K... maybe I get fit enough to race... and who knows.. beginning of June, Woman's Tri... who knows.... 

(to be continued...)

Nike Night Run Tel Aviv

So, I somehow survived the 10k Nike Night Run in Tel Aviv... don't ask me how but I did finish. The pain, hmm.. there are no words, I am still struggling with my toe that got bruised under the nail a year ago. Honestly, I had no idea, it would still hurt this much, but after about 4km I was in agony and tata, I still am.


Who ever said, running was fun? I actually remember, me saying that when I was a very young girl and ran 5k in 21 (I was about 8 years old). These days I honestly wonder, where I took all the power to do all those kind of sports, study and work at the same time. Could it be, that the healthy air of the Swiss mountains enhanced my energy or is it just a fact, that when you are young, you don't even realize all the running and jumping around? Thinking back of when I was a teenager, I do have to say, I'm pretty impressed by all the things I did and tried out.

Wanna get an example? Alright here we go. When I was sixteen years old, I started an apprenticeship meaning, I worked 8:45 hours a day (except for when I went to school 1 1/2 days a week). I usually took the bike to school which was located 26km away from the village I grew up and the height difference I had to overcome was 300 meter. Usually after work, I went running or on the bike for a little while. Growing up on a "kind of farm" meant also, to help out with the animals and in summer to get up the mountains to get the hay for the winter together. All year long we went horseback riding to get fit for the races that were usually in late summer/ fall. But I also competed in the Swiss Cup which meant, I had races from early spring till late fall. If I had a weekend "off", I loved to attend Streetdance Workshops, yes, it wasn't enough that during the week, I would have modern jazz lesson and twice a week a 3 hours karate course. Winter also meant snowboarding or skiing, which my mother put, you just HAVE TO DO, when you grow up in the mountains and of course it also means that you go cheering for your favorite Hockey Club twice a week (if they played local that is, but of course, when ever possible, we went after our club to support them).

Once a week I went to play in the local marching band and over lunch I went to Piano lessons. Sometimes the marching band had concerts, which meant spending some extra hours in the evening with the band working on the songs.

Thursdays and Fridays were also the evenings, when we were allowed to "hang around" at the pub. (Yes, when I grew up, we went out at the age of 16 and had a malibu and felt very grown up).

You ask me, how is it possible to do so many things when the day has only 24 hours and the week has only 7 days. It beats me, but I guess, when you're young, you are able to squeeze in more and still have energy not to go to bed and argue with your parents.

So, this all said, I do have to admit (gosh I hate myself for this), that I start feeling my age. I am actually happy to have a night in or go to bed early curling up with a good book and hot chocolate, cuddling the cats. Don't get me wrong, I still try to go to the pool three times a week and I try to run (well, I have to get that toe checked, to be able to run without pain), but I just feel really tired after that. Not that this is a bad thing. Actually, I do enjoy working out, getting home and fall into bed but I do wonder every now and then, how I've been able all those years ago, to do so much more and never getting tired.

Now, last Saturday, when running those 10k, I realized, that I do have to change something in my lifestyle and that, no matter how much I try to make myself believe, that I am still fit, well I figured, I AM NOT!!!

So, this blog should motivate me to get from fat to fit again and finally full fill one of my life long dreams.


THE HAWAII IRONMAN


For years, I have been dreaming about Triathlons and I did a few back in Switzerland. Not very successful of course, but it was more for the fun of it and to try out. Now, for those who don't really know the difference between the Ironman and a "normal" Triathlon, this is pretty simple. The Ironman is as much a psychological race as it is physical. Swimming 3.8k (2.2miles), Biking 180k (112m) and then Running a full Marathon 42k (26m) is a toughie. You need to be more than just super fit, you need to be at least a little bit crazy (I do hope, the Ironman Athletes forgive me for saying that, but honestly.. it's true).

How to become an Ironman (Ironlady) is not as simple as one might think and I do have a very long and very very painful way ahead of me, but I am willing to suffer and to curse and to curse some more and wonder, "why in the heck am I doing this"... when actually I do have the answer for ages. Because it's the most amazing feeling to accomplish something that not everyone can, to beat your inner bastard and to overcome the pain and the hurt and just go on till the end.

People who never participated in any competitive sport, might never understand, but who ever raced, (no matter what kind of sport) knows what I am talking about.

So this is it. The long journey has started and just like a successful diet, a successful Triathlon starts in the head. The secret to success is to focus and stay motivated all the way, so this is what I am trying with this blog. Lets say, it's my "sports" blog. I will post about events I am going to see and events where I am actually participating. I try to keep myself inspired by great Sportswomen and Sportsmen and try to explain a little, why this or that one, inspires me and how.

Putting the Nike Night Run behind me and focusing on the future which offers many many more runs, swims and bike races and triathlons, I am very optimistic, that I will fulfill my big dream (even if it kills me.. haha)

So stay tuned for some updates pretty soon on Berlin (in 2 weeks) and in the mean time, I'll post some stories of the Maccabia and other events that I've been to.