The day started so pretty, but by early afternoon the sun had turned to hot, sticky rain. As I was leaving my apartment, I thought to myself...do I really want to go out in this? But, the idea of everyone else participating without me swiftly took me out the door.

I think the Coach was surprised by the lack of people out tonight, but there was a still a large group. We ended up doing hill repeats outside of the park & again Coach put me with the faster boys. I am not 100% sure why he keeps doing that, but I enjoy the challenge. I kept a solid pace on each repeat, we were going for 13 but he cut us off at 9.

Distance: 2.5 mile bike ride, 1.5 mile warmup, .5 mile warmdown, 9x300? hill repeats
State of Mind: Stay strong...please stay strong

Here's some more pics from Cosme's...coutesy of the lovely & talented Frank D.

Ran Cosme's Coney Island 5k race this morning & had a really fun time. Ended up going down with a huge gang, all excited PPTCers. My brother ended up doing the race with wife & her family, which made the race that much better. It was a hot day, but I knew the race was going to fun...I mean how many people take advantage of a chance to run a race on a boardwalk...especially in Coney Island.

I started off fast, or let me say this differently...I started off with the pace that I knew I had to run to PR & didn't realize that both H & M were behind me. By half way point, I was feeling the heat but I found out that dumping cold water on my head helped keep down my core body temp. Between mile 1.5 & mile 2, both H & M passed me...but I still didn't feel that weak. I held it together & tried to finish strong. I ended up running the first mile in 6:45, but my overall pace was 6:53, which isn't incredibly awful. No PR though.

Distance: 5K in 21:21 plus a mile warmup & half mile warmdown
State of Mind: The people around me give me such joy, such energy, such fulfillment

Today was the PPTC picnic...which is always an event. I met up with the group beforehand & ended up doing a loop with A, H & R. It was nice girl time.

Afterwards, we grabbed a few things at the farmers market & headed down to the picnic. The picnic kicked off with a 3-person relay race followed by a potluck of sorts. I ran with two members of the club that I was not too familiar with...but it was still fun.

Distance: 6 or so miles
State of Mind: One can get tired of too much PPTC

My huge project at work finally launched today, thank goodness. Check it out here: http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/fun/fireworks.aspx

I was thinking of trying to make up my missing yoga practice from yesterday, but I was just too tired to try. So I came home instead, put on my ipod & did a solo practice (in my underwear) alone in my living room. It was really nice, a little different & made me think that I could make some movement if I practiced alone more routinely.

Distance: n/a
State of Mind: And let this all be behind me...

Time wasn't on my side today, had to suck it up at some point & realize that sometimes days just don't turn out like they should. Woke up feeling awful & the day just passed by so slowly.

Missed yoga practice tonight, so I ended up coming home & doing a slow easy loop around the park. It was actually pleasant, just so nice to have some me-time.

Distance: 5.35 miles
State of Mind: Still empty...

Coach's speed session started today, which is wonderful wonderful wonderful. I was super anxious all day that I might miss it, because work continues to suck the life & the time out of my ONCE happy self. But I snuck out & made it in more than enough time.

There was a huge group of runners, 10 or so new peeps & all of the old regulars. S & A are both doing it as well, which is awesome.

We ended up doing a long warmup, two loops around the ball field before heading over to the tennis courts to do 400's. Coach wanted us to do 8 with 30 sec breaks & put me in a group with G. I tried to barely keep up with G, who is so much faster than me...my only way to even try was to cut my recovery significantly. I felt strong, but my left achilles, ankle, knee all hurt. I think it may be from my deep tissue massage last weekend, but it doesn't feel good.

Happy birthday baby!

Distance: 2.5 mile bike ride round trip, 2 mile warmup, 8x400's, .5 warm down
State of Mind: Blank...inside & out

Woke up to a misty morning, perfect for a light run. Since my run was tough yesterday & since I got a deep tissue massage, I decided to really take it easy today. I showed up at GAP, but I figured out very quickly that I might be a the lone runner today since everyone is quite busy in their lives right now. I ended up just jogging around the top of the park & heading back home since I didn't feel the urge to do a full loop.

Instead, I headed home & did some strength training to mix it up a bit. Felt really good.

Congrats C & K, I am so very happy for you guys.

Distance: 2 miles + 10 minutes of strength training
State of Mind: Body work can make all the difference

After another long week, I went to bed early on Friday night in order to get as much rest as possible. Waking up refreshed today, I was excited that it wasn't pouring down rain. Met up with the group & S suggested we stick in Brooklyn instead of venturing over one of the many bridges. We ended up deciding to go around the cemetery & to make our way to Owls Head Park, depending on the time it took to get us there.

I felt good the whole way there, but the humidity was definitely impacting me. I am not used to sweating so much, but I tried to keep strong form & my breathing normal so I could hang with the rest of the group. S & G took off after the halfway point & left us in the dust. I stuck with the middle pack until I hit the hills of the cemetery where I just felt like I couldn't manage the pace any longer. So I took a minute to walk & to hopefully bring down my heart rate.

I have noticed lately with myself that after an hour or so of moderate to hard running, that I start overheat. I can't figure out if it is physical or mental, but it is seriously frustrating to have to drop back when I felt so good for so long. I really need to look into this more.

After a minute of walking, I put on my IPOD & zoned out as I made my way, via 8th avenue, back to the park. I actually enjoyed running by myself, there were no expectations & I felt...again...very controlled. When I got back to GAP, everyone was still hanging 'round, which is always a good sign.

Distance: 11.5 miles
State of Mind: Beaten up, but needed
Map Link: http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/ny/brooklyn/577124558793567543

After another long day at work, I rushed out of the building to make yoga practice. I barely made it to class, which is never a good feeling. But, in a way, to go from completely-on to completely-off is a good lesson on how crazy life can get. I have noticed that I am technically a better student when I am stressed, I think the focus seriously makes a huge difference.

Ali yet again surprised the class with variations that only she could think of. I loved every minute of it BUT really never got out of my work zone...so unfortunate.

Distance: n/a
State of Mind: Trying to find the silence within

Definitely felt like it was going to rain tonight, but my instincts are never right. Met up with the group, there are quite a large group of peeps...even though a few of the usuals weren't there. We did a fast fast fast loop, thanks to D, H & S...I just tried to hold on.

Good luck Cristin & Krishna....

Distance: 5 miles
State of Mind: Scared of whats to come

Did an easy loop around the park by myself tonight, it was actually a nice refreshing break from running with the group & reminded me of when I first moved here. I ran easy & stuck to the trail path, which was fun & calming. Especially in my crazy life right now.

Distance: 5.35 miles
State of Mind: Ahhhhhhhhh

Met up with the No Sleep Till Brooklyn girls this morning, was really nice to get a group of nine runners together for a casual run. Everyone showed up minus three girls, who all lives outside of the NYC area. We did an easy loop around the park & made our way down to the Tea Lounge on Union to discuss planning. We ended up staying for over an hour, just chatting about the relay race...it was really nice.

Distance: 5 miles
State of Mind: Girls are a great distraction

Worked 14+ hours yesterday & spent almost all last night waking up to "work" thoughts since I obviously wasn't able to let go. I am not so sure I could have done something about that, I just think my mind was so burned out that it wouldn't let my body rest.

I really wanted to break myself running today, but my exhaustion from this last week definitely wouldn't let me. I met up with the group, which was quite large today...probably because the weather was perfect, minus the secret layer of humidity hidden by the breeze.

We originally had decided to do our usual Brooklyn to Williamsburg bridge route, but once we got over the Brooklyn bridge we changed our minds & went up to the new High Line park on the West Side. My sister M would be so jealous of the park, it was quite amazing. Full of small details that really made it feel rich & special.

On the way back, we checked out the new running hut on the WSH, which was seriously really cool. I ran most of the time with H & K, which is always so calming. We decided to walk at Ft. Green Park & just enjoy the day a little longer before going on with our lives.

Distance: 12.75 miles
State of Mind: Exhaustion feels good on me

Nearly two weeks away from a big site launch at work, so I knew that keeping centered & focused would be extremely important. I barely snuck away from work to make my usual practice, but as soon as I left the building I knew that I had made the right decision.

R joined me again tonight, practice felt a little weird since I had just taken Keith's class on Sunday...I sometimes wonder what my life would be like if I decided to dedicate myself to yoga more than my usual once a week.

One thing that I did notice about myself is that my level of practice goes way up when I am stressed. I am much less sloppy, lazy & even tight. Ali taught a slightly different class, with tweaks & creativity in her usual flow. For the first time in a long time, I asked myself if I was ready to move to the next level in practice...I guess I will to need test it out.

Distance: n/a
State of Mind: 'you are the music while the music lasts'...hmm t.s. eliot

Had a crazy crazy crazy day at work today, so I couldn't wait to get out of Manhattan (and my mind). Met up with the group today, much smaller group than usual since the speed series has started. We decided to run the opposite way around the park, to take in the fabulous 5k runners, it was great to see so many PPTCers out there.

Distance: 5.35 miles
State of Mind: And this too shall pass

Ran with K tonight, since the speed session is still on break. We decided to do something a little different & work on our form tonight. We met up at Fort Greene Park & did a 2 loops of 30x2min & 30x1min repeats to see if we could improve our cadence. We counted foot strikes each 30sec period , which really made us focus on our form instead of our speed. We started with an easy trail loop & finished the same way, which was really nice.

Distance: 2 mile warmup, 2 mile cadence training, 2 mile warmdown
State of Mind: A confused girl gets so much less confused with running

Went to LL tonight to take yoga practice with the ever-popular Keith, since Ali couldn't stop bragging about him. R joined me, which always changes the chemistry of things. The practice was truly beautiful, a new pace & a new voice to guide me towards the light. I sweat up a storm but it was already "midi" as M calls it, for those that don't know M is my secret yoga crush...she is delicious. Coming into Manhattan was definitely worth it, minus the complete sweat scene I caused.

Distance: n/a
State of Mind: Why am I such a sensation seeker???

Ran the Kenny Dolan 5k race today. I was excited to run it, since I really enjoyed the race last year. I didn't go over board today, just showed up & tried to run hard. Ran the first mile in 6:20, mile two in 13:40 & finished pretty poorly in 21:40. I felt good the whole time & was definitely feeling the heat, not so shabby for my first 5k of the season. It looks like I really slowed down during mile three, something for me to work on as I go through the summer.

Distance: 1 mile warmup, 5k race @ 21:40, 3 miles of walking
State of Mind: Hot, hot, hot...but very fun

Crazy day at work, had to manage an internal event & do my own job at the same time. But, luckily enough, I was able to speak in front of the whole agency...which is always great exposure. But I barely had time to think about anything besides what was immediately in front of me, which is not how I like to live my life. Oh agency-life, you want the better of me don't you?

Met up with R before practice to take the train down to Chelsea. As we entered the studio, you could immediately tell how humid it was. Ali was all about the music tonight, so we started off the class with some high-energy, almost sexual, songs.

For some reason, I was so on tonight. Every pose, every move...I felt stronger & better than I have in a long time. So much more composed, so much more focused. Hopefully that will impact my race this weekend. I need to remember how it felt to be so strong.

Distance: n/a
State of Mind: Exhausted, thoroughly exhausted

It was pouring rain when I left work today, I questioned showing up to the group run but I really didn't have any choice since I had to be in the Slope anyways after 8pm for therapy. It was actually surprising how many people showed up & by the time I got to the park...the rain had definitely stopped for the most part.

We ran at conversational pace, I spent most of the time talking to Maggie since, as usual, the boys didn't have much to say. We are both excited about Kenny Dolan.

Distance: 5.25 miles
State of Mind: My mind said, if you give into weather, what else will you give into

The speed session ended it's 10-week commitment last week, so I didn't have any organized running plans tonight to come home too. Thankfully Krishna joined me a on a little pseudo speed workout, I think we really just needed each other so we could get out of the house. But once we got out, oh man, the humidity hit us.

We met up at GAP, but decided to loop back to our houses & head to Ft. Greene park. Repeats around the park, with a 3 minute rest. We planned on only doing 2, just to keep the workout fairly easy BUT I think we both pushed it really hard on both loops.

Distance: 2 mile warm up, .85 mile repeat x2, 1 mile warmdown
State of Mind: Physically fine, mentally tortured