New Haven, Conn. — Yale University researchers were able to reduce symptoms of lupus in mice by eliminating a key immune system cell and in doing so may have identified a new therapeutic target for a variety of other autoimmune diseases.
The findings, reported in the December 16 issue of the journal Immunity, focused on the role the dendritic cell plays in systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE, a chronic inflammatory disease that affects a variety of parts of the body including skin, joints, blood and kidneys. Dendritic cells are important for initiating the immune response to pathogens but it is unclear what role they play in autoimmune diseases, such as SLE.
A team led by Mark Shlomchik, Professor of Laboratory Medicine and of Immunobiology and senior author of the paper, knocked out dendritic cells in lupus-prone mice and found a dramatic reduction in symptoms of lupus. They also discovered another surprise.
Dendritic cells were believed to be crucial in activating T cells, which along with B cells comprise the two main arms of the immune system. However, knocking out the dendritic cells in lupus mice did not reduce the activation of pathogenic T cells as expected. Instead, the cells disappeared from inflamed tissue such as kidneys, causing a reduction in symptoms in lupus mice lacking the dendritic cells. Dendritic cells appear to play a localized role in lupus tissue damage and so might make a good therapeutic target for lupus and possibly other autoimmune diseases as well, the authors say.
“Dendritic cells could be having the same effects in a variety of other autoimmune diseases, but we will not know until we do similar experiments in other disease models,” Shlomchik said.
Other Yale authors of the paper are Lino Teichmann, Michael Kashgarian, and Michelle Harris-Ols.
The work was funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases and the Lupus Research Institute.
http://insciences.org/article.php?article_id=9737
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
FDA recommends new Lupus drug for approval!
[from WSJ:]
A Food and Drug Administration panel of outside experts recommended Tuesday that the agency approve lupus drug Benlysta, developed by Human Genome Sciences Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline PLC.
The 13-to-2 vote increases the likelihood of the drug getting to patients with the autoimmune disease, making it the first new treatment in more than 50 years. The panel also voted that the data surrounding the drug demonstrated its effectiveness and its safety.
Lupus has historically been a difficult development area for drug makers, partly because of the varied nature of its symptoms make it hard to prove a treatment is effective in a large-scale clinical trial. Attempts to develop new treatments for the condition have created a long list of failures.
Benlysta is important for both companies as it one of the most important new drugs in Glaxo's pipeline and Human Genome Sciences has no products on the market.
Leerink Swann & Co. analysts project that global sales of Benlysta could exceed $5 billion in 2020. The drug's success in two large studies, called Bliss, has produced consistent speculation that Glaxo, or another large drug maker, would acquire Human Genome.
Lupus occurs when the body attacks itself, causing inflammation and tissue damage virtually anywhere in the body, making it both difficult to diagnose and treat. It affects about 1.5 million people nationally, according to the Lupus Foundation of America.
Benlysta is designed to help relieve lupus symptoms that can include joint pain and swelling resembling severe arthritis as well as rashes and inflammation of the kidneys. It blocks a protein required for the development of certain immune system cells thought to play a key role in lupus.
If Benlysta is approved, its label will likely include strong warnings, as many drugs for rheumatoid arthritis already do. After voting on the approval, many panel members urged that the label of the drug should note that the drug hasn't been tested in certain populations, including those with severe kidney disease.
On Tuesday, researchers who worked with the companies presented data from large clinical trials that they said showed the drug was effective.
After failing earlier testing, the companies worked with the FDA to design the trials with a never-used combination of several disease-activity measures, including the drug's effect on recurring flare-ups and on symptom severity.
At the meeting, numerous lupus patients testified about their experiences with the disease including constant fatigue, crippling pain and respiratory problems that required lengthy, repeated hospitalization. They expressed frustration with the lack of effective therapies and urged the FDA to approve Benlysta.
Some patients--many of whose travel expenses were reimbursed by the companies--talked about their positive experiences with the drug in clinical trials. Most of the patients who testified were women or teenage girls; lupus largely targets females of child-bearing age.
Because the disease can cause various symptoms, physicians traditionally use different treatments, including anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, antimalarials and immunosuppressants, all of which have their own potential side effects.
FDA staff scientists also testified and reiterated concerns expressed in an analysis released Friday that associated the drug with an increase in death, and serious side effects including infections and adverse psychiatric events.
Panel member David Blumenthal, assistant professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University, strongly questioned the presentation of clinical data for Benlysta. The first study, called Bliss-52, only included patients in Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe, and therefore wasn't representative of lupus patients in the U.S., he said.
The second study, Bliss-76, used patients from the U.S. and Western Europe and showed less effectiveness results than the previous trial after a year. A six-month follow-up showed that some benefits of the drug declined.
Several panel members reiterated Dr. Blumenthal's doubts about the strength of that data. Panel members and the FDA representative expressed concerns that the drug appeared less effective or perhaps even harmful in certain subgroups including African-Americans. Agency scientists also noted that African-American patients' symptoms seemed to worsen on Benlysta. That is particularly troublesome because African-Americans generally have a more aggressive form of lupus, the FDA memo said.
A company-affiliated researcher said at Tuesday's meeting that the results in African-Americans were disappointing and needed to be addressed in future research.
Rheumatologist Murray Urowitz of the University of Toronto told the panel that several factors, including lupus patients' continued use of the steroid prednisone during Bliss tests, make doing any clinical trials on lupus "daunting."
But Dr. Urowitz, who participated in the companies' Benlysta research, added that results from clinical trials indicate good efficacy compared to placebos in relieving some symptoms.
The president of the Lupus Foundation of America, Sandra Raymond, told the advisory committee that patients need new drugs that will improve their quality of life, and recommended Benysta's approval. The foundation, like several lupus groups that urged FDA approval, receives donations from the drug industry.
A Food and Drug Administration panel of outside experts recommended Tuesday that the agency approve lupus drug Benlysta, developed by Human Genome Sciences Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline PLC.
The 13-to-2 vote increases the likelihood of the drug getting to patients with the autoimmune disease, making it the first new treatment in more than 50 years. The panel also voted that the data surrounding the drug demonstrated its effectiveness and its safety.
Lupus has historically been a difficult development area for drug makers, partly because of the varied nature of its symptoms make it hard to prove a treatment is effective in a large-scale clinical trial. Attempts to develop new treatments for the condition have created a long list of failures.
Benlysta is important for both companies as it one of the most important new drugs in Glaxo's pipeline and Human Genome Sciences has no products on the market.
Leerink Swann & Co. analysts project that global sales of Benlysta could exceed $5 billion in 2020. The drug's success in two large studies, called Bliss, has produced consistent speculation that Glaxo, or another large drug maker, would acquire Human Genome.
Lupus occurs when the body attacks itself, causing inflammation and tissue damage virtually anywhere in the body, making it both difficult to diagnose and treat. It affects about 1.5 million people nationally, according to the Lupus Foundation of America.
Benlysta is designed to help relieve lupus symptoms that can include joint pain and swelling resembling severe arthritis as well as rashes and inflammation of the kidneys. It blocks a protein required for the development of certain immune system cells thought to play a key role in lupus.
If Benlysta is approved, its label will likely include strong warnings, as many drugs for rheumatoid arthritis already do. After voting on the approval, many panel members urged that the label of the drug should note that the drug hasn't been tested in certain populations, including those with severe kidney disease.
On Tuesday, researchers who worked with the companies presented data from large clinical trials that they said showed the drug was effective.
After failing earlier testing, the companies worked with the FDA to design the trials with a never-used combination of several disease-activity measures, including the drug's effect on recurring flare-ups and on symptom severity.
At the meeting, numerous lupus patients testified about their experiences with the disease including constant fatigue, crippling pain and respiratory problems that required lengthy, repeated hospitalization. They expressed frustration with the lack of effective therapies and urged the FDA to approve Benlysta.
Some patients--many of whose travel expenses were reimbursed by the companies--talked about their positive experiences with the drug in clinical trials. Most of the patients who testified were women or teenage girls; lupus largely targets females of child-bearing age.
Because the disease can cause various symptoms, physicians traditionally use different treatments, including anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, antimalarials and immunosuppressants, all of which have their own potential side effects.
FDA staff scientists also testified and reiterated concerns expressed in an analysis released Friday that associated the drug with an increase in death, and serious side effects including infections and adverse psychiatric events.
Panel member David Blumenthal, assistant professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University, strongly questioned the presentation of clinical data for Benlysta. The first study, called Bliss-52, only included patients in Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe, and therefore wasn't representative of lupus patients in the U.S., he said.
The second study, Bliss-76, used patients from the U.S. and Western Europe and showed less effectiveness results than the previous trial after a year. A six-month follow-up showed that some benefits of the drug declined.
Several panel members reiterated Dr. Blumenthal's doubts about the strength of that data. Panel members and the FDA representative expressed concerns that the drug appeared less effective or perhaps even harmful in certain subgroups including African-Americans. Agency scientists also noted that African-American patients' symptoms seemed to worsen on Benlysta. That is particularly troublesome because African-Americans generally have a more aggressive form of lupus, the FDA memo said.
A company-affiliated researcher said at Tuesday's meeting that the results in African-Americans were disappointing and needed to be addressed in future research.
Rheumatologist Murray Urowitz of the University of Toronto told the panel that several factors, including lupus patients' continued use of the steroid prednisone during Bliss tests, make doing any clinical trials on lupus "daunting."
But Dr. Urowitz, who participated in the companies' Benlysta research, added that results from clinical trials indicate good efficacy compared to placebos in relieving some symptoms.
The president of the Lupus Foundation of America, Sandra Raymond, told the advisory committee that patients need new drugs that will improve their quality of life, and recommended Benysta's approval. The foundation, like several lupus groups that urged FDA approval, receives donations from the drug industry.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Stats
Finish time: 5:28:15
We raised: $3,000
Money raised by Team Life Without Lupus: over $130,000!
Thanks all :)
We raised: $3,000
Money raised by Team Life Without Lupus: over $130,000!
Thanks all :)
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
J's pictures
First Avenue
Reunited with my ski jacket and my boy.
And my girls.
My awesome gloves purchased at the expo.
Celebratory cake!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Marathon part 5: Manhattan, again
I missed the Harlem choir I'd heard about. Perhaps I was out of it? Or maybe they got tired before I got there. In any case, there was a lot of music and a flock of very enthusiastic kids handing out random food. I felt bad turning it all down, but was feeling some nausea from the exertion, three Nutrigrains ingested to get me that far and a half cup of Gatorade every mile.
I was very glad to have been warned that the first sight of trees is a park, but not the park. It's Marcus Garvey, and we ran around it to continue along Fifth Avenue. We headed down Fifth Avenue, but it was all up hill. Looooooong uphill. I knew it was long; I knew I'd be tired. I knew from Saturday exactly where than 24 mile mark was and I told myself to look ten feet in front of me and not to the top of the hill. Let the hill come to me, I love you hill, come to me hill. The crowds grew again. I listened to both the roar and a blasting ipod for power. I thought, this is as tough as it gets and I'm doing it. I was fine, and the truth is that I never doubted my ability to finish (saving severe migraine, ferry breakdown or other catastrophe). Am I "digging deep" now? Even at mile 23.8 after almost two miles of hill, I wasn't and I knew I wasn't. My feet hurt and it was not that easy to keep my legs going, but there was no wall, there were no cramps, and I've done harder.
I hit 90th Street, went into the park, hit the 24 mile mark, passed the Met at the top of a hill. I realized I was making it; it was basically the end. I suddenly remembered why I was running and thought about why I didn't feel like I was "digging deep". I had dug deep just to keep myself moving when I was stuck in a never ending and undiagnosed lupus flare, when I didn't have a lot of hope that that I'd be able to physically function like a "normal" person and have the energy to have "normal" person experiences without constant pain and be happy. This just wasn't as hard; I was in control.
On the way down the hill, I passed my parents, best friends and my person. I held it together, smiled and kept it light, but burst out crying thirty seconds later. Had I not been diagnosed and lucky enough to respond well to my life-quality-saving medication, I could've missed my out-of-this world college experience and these people that will always be my second family; and a third family from law school that I thought I'd been too lucky already to find and keep (even if by gchat). I could've missed the energy to jump into a train-distance relationship, move to Manhattan, make decisions fueled by ambition. I certainly would have missed the opportunity to see my people looking at me like they had no doubt I could run that far and my dad look at me at mile 24.5 without concern.
I pulled it together up the last hill to Central Park South. A spectator just to my left yelled "you can do it, Kate, you've got it, looking strong!" I rounded the corner and gradually picked up the pace along Central Park South. I smelled horse poop and wondered whether it really would have been that hard to clean the street for forty thousand people on their last legs. I hit Columbus circle, saw the glowing orange sun beginning to set between two buildings, and turned back into the park between a stage and some kind of metal structure with lighting equipment. I could see the mile 26 sign. I picked up the pace and people cheered louder, which I knew they would. I hit mile 26 and ran faster. They cheered louder and yelled things about a strong finish. The signs read "300 yards," "200 yards," and then I saw the finish line and the cameras. I smiled, pumped my arms harder, and sped across the line.
And burst out crying again. An old woman in a visor put the medal around my neck.
My feet hurt a lot at the end and I fell asleep at 8pm last night. Training was harder, and taking the leap to sign up was harder than that. Just going for it without knowing first that my body would cooperate was scary and not what cautious me was used to. This cause is obviously important to me, but it also ended up being an important lesson in how I should be thinking about pushing myself now, going for it without knowing it's a foregone conclusion.
So, a last thank you for contributing to the cause and encouraging me on this journey that has ended up meaning quite a lot to me.
[I'll post some pictures here as they become available so that you all can see my I'm-trying-to-look-cute/hot/tough/happy/relaxed awkward, sweaty smiles.]
I was very glad to have been warned that the first sight of trees is a park, but not the park. It's Marcus Garvey, and we ran around it to continue along Fifth Avenue. We headed down Fifth Avenue, but it was all up hill. Looooooong uphill. I knew it was long; I knew I'd be tired. I knew from Saturday exactly where than 24 mile mark was and I told myself to look ten feet in front of me and not to the top of the hill. Let the hill come to me, I love you hill, come to me hill. The crowds grew again. I listened to both the roar and a blasting ipod for power. I thought, this is as tough as it gets and I'm doing it. I was fine, and the truth is that I never doubted my ability to finish (saving severe migraine, ferry breakdown or other catastrophe). Am I "digging deep" now? Even at mile 23.8 after almost two miles of hill, I wasn't and I knew I wasn't. My feet hurt and it was not that easy to keep my legs going, but there was no wall, there were no cramps, and I've done harder.
I hit 90th Street, went into the park, hit the 24 mile mark, passed the Met at the top of a hill. I realized I was making it; it was basically the end. I suddenly remembered why I was running and thought about why I didn't feel like I was "digging deep". I had dug deep just to keep myself moving when I was stuck in a never ending and undiagnosed lupus flare, when I didn't have a lot of hope that that I'd be able to physically function like a "normal" person and have the energy to have "normal" person experiences without constant pain and be happy. This just wasn't as hard; I was in control.
On the way down the hill, I passed my parents, best friends and my person. I held it together, smiled and kept it light, but burst out crying thirty seconds later. Had I not been diagnosed and lucky enough to respond well to my life-quality-saving medication, I could've missed my out-of-this world college experience and these people that will always be my second family; and a third family from law school that I thought I'd been too lucky already to find and keep (even if by gchat). I could've missed the energy to jump into a train-distance relationship, move to Manhattan, make decisions fueled by ambition. I certainly would have missed the opportunity to see my people looking at me like they had no doubt I could run that far and my dad look at me at mile 24.5 without concern.
I pulled it together up the last hill to Central Park South. A spectator just to my left yelled "you can do it, Kate, you've got it, looking strong!" I rounded the corner and gradually picked up the pace along Central Park South. I smelled horse poop and wondered whether it really would have been that hard to clean the street for forty thousand people on their last legs. I hit Columbus circle, saw the glowing orange sun beginning to set between two buildings, and turned back into the park between a stage and some kind of metal structure with lighting equipment. I could see the mile 26 sign. I picked up the pace and people cheered louder, which I knew they would. I hit mile 26 and ran faster. They cheered louder and yelled things about a strong finish. The signs read "300 yards," "200 yards," and then I saw the finish line and the cameras. I smiled, pumped my arms harder, and sped across the line.
And burst out crying again. An old woman in a visor put the medal around my neck.
My feet hurt a lot at the end and I fell asleep at 8pm last night. Training was harder, and taking the leap to sign up was harder than that. Just going for it without knowing first that my body would cooperate was scary and not what cautious me was used to. This cause is obviously important to me, but it also ended up being an important lesson in how I should be thinking about pushing myself now, going for it without knowing it's a foregone conclusion.
So, a last thank you for contributing to the cause and encouraging me on this journey that has ended up meaning quite a lot to me.
[I'll post some pictures here as they become available so that you all can see my I'm-trying-to-look-cute/hot/tough/happy/relaxed awkward, sweaty smiles.]
Marathon part 4: Manhattan
Everyone knows that the marathon goes up First Avenue, and I knew that. Except that whenever I pictured arriving in Manhattan, in my head, we ran up Second. So, while I was excited to see the crowd I was hearing, exiting the bridge and making a left down to First Avenue just felt really wrong.
But the crowds, as promised, were terrific. They were loud and rowdy (helped, I'm sure, by the bars), reading and screaming my name like they knew me. I counted down block by block until 74th, a rising feeling of nervousness and excitment until I hit the people that actually knew me. Hugs, kisses and refusals of additional supplies. I was happy that I looked good enough that they wouldn't worry before they saw me again.
Up, up, up First Avenue to like 1,950th St.
Then another hill on a stupid little bridge, and back to people with signs!
"Welcome to the Bronx"
"Nice Legs!"
"Go Hotstuff!"
"Beer ===>"
"Your Feet Hurt Cause You're Kicking Ass"
"Who needs toenails? You have glory!"
Steel drumb band, booming something hard rock-y, and then a children's Asian drumming group in full uniform. We couldn't have been in the Bronx for more than twenty minutes to a half hour; in, a semi-circle, and back out. Then, a big hill of a bridge (I will forever notice that all bridges are hills) back to Manhattan.
Leaving the Bronx, there was more than one sign that read: "Run like you stole something."
But the crowds, as promised, were terrific. They were loud and rowdy (helped, I'm sure, by the bars), reading and screaming my name like they knew me. I counted down block by block until 74th, a rising feeling of nervousness and excitment until I hit the people that actually knew me. Hugs, kisses and refusals of additional supplies. I was happy that I looked good enough that they wouldn't worry before they saw me again.
Up, up, up First Avenue to like 1,950th St.
Then another hill on a stupid little bridge, and back to people with signs!
"Welcome to the Bronx"
"Nice Legs!"
"Go Hotstuff!"
"Beer ===>"
"Your Feet Hurt Cause You're Kicking Ass"
"Who needs toenails? You have glory!"
Steel drumb band, booming something hard rock-y, and then a children's Asian drumming group in full uniform. We couldn't have been in the Bronx for more than twenty minutes to a half hour; in, a semi-circle, and back out. Then, a big hill of a bridge (I will forever notice that all bridges are hills) back to Manhattan.
Leaving the Bronx, there was more than one sign that read: "Run like you stole something."
Marathon part 3: Queens
"Brooklyn Believes in YOU!" turned to "Queens Welcomes You!"
The Pulaski Bridge sucks. It's steep and the surroundings are 'eh'. We ran in a semi circle, I think, through some boring buildings in Queens, which felt annoyingly indirect and, compared to much of the course, unremarkable. But then I saw a beautiful sight, Scandals, my favorite strip club. Why? Location, location, location. I knew it meant I was approaching the onramp to the Queensboro Bridge. Everyone complains about it and a great many people walk up it (because it's a hill, but mostly, I think, because nobody is there to see), but I have never thought the Queensboro was that bad. Running to Manhattan and my waiting people made it mentally easier to stay running, and I took out the ipod for the first time. The song, "Wanna Be," was perfect for meeting my lover with my spice girl friends.
Approaching the end of the bridge, we could hear a loud roar.
[Next up: Manhattan]
The Pulaski Bridge sucks. It's steep and the surroundings are 'eh'. We ran in a semi circle, I think, through some boring buildings in Queens, which felt annoyingly indirect and, compared to much of the course, unremarkable. But then I saw a beautiful sight, Scandals, my favorite strip club. Why? Location, location, location. I knew it meant I was approaching the onramp to the Queensboro Bridge. Everyone complains about it and a great many people walk up it (because it's a hill, but mostly, I think, because nobody is there to see), but I have never thought the Queensboro was that bad. Running to Manhattan and my waiting people made it mentally easier to stay running, and I took out the ipod for the first time. The song, "Wanna Be," was perfect for meeting my lover with my spice girl friends.
Approaching the end of the bridge, we could hear a loud roar.
[Next up: Manhattan]
Marathon part 2: Brooklyn
Saw the first friendly friend face shortly after mile ten after scanning the crowd wildly along the right side for some seriously blonde hair. Big hugs and company for a minute's walk, and I was back on my way, feeling less alone among strangers. And then far less alone a couple blocks later as I found what I was looking for, a college friend in one of the bands along the route. I realized it after I passed, so I turned around, ran back to him and screamed his name while jumping up and down and waving my arms until his bandmate pointed at me to get his attention. He raised his eyebrows and smiled, I smiled and continued along quite pleased with my scouting.
And then I only got cooler and more suave when I hit the most dead boring part of Brooklyn, Hasidic Williamsburg. There are blocks of no cheering at all. Minimal eye contact. It was as though nobody on the sidewalks and stoops noticed that forty-something-thousand strangers were rushing past the house. And then, thinking that one guy out of a bunch taking pictures was my cousin, I screamed his name to get his attention, poking my head in front of his so that he'd see my face, it would all register and we'd have a nice moment-- a repeat of greeting the band. Only, this was not actually anyone I knew. I suddenly became very grateful that what I was supposed to do in that moment was turn back and run away-- quickly.
And so I ran and ran and ran and was still in Brooklyn. The hills of Brooklyn. Nobody told me there were hills in Brooklyn! At least the crowds became fun again, the bands came closer together and the signs were funny. That reminds me-- my favorite sign on the back of a Chilean who was tired of being asked: "I am NOT the Chilean Miner!" Second favorite (because it made me laugh when I needed it) was on the back of an eighty something year-old, listing his birth year, age, marathons run, and then saying "What I lack in speed I make up for in endurance. Ask my wife."
A minute of video from the Team Life Without Lupus cheer squad in Brooklyn: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=458050809175 (you can see me in the still before the video starts in the white visor and then running by soon after it starts)
[Next up: Queens]
And then I only got cooler and more suave when I hit the most dead boring part of Brooklyn, Hasidic Williamsburg. There are blocks of no cheering at all. Minimal eye contact. It was as though nobody on the sidewalks and stoops noticed that forty-something-thousand strangers were rushing past the house. And then, thinking that one guy out of a bunch taking pictures was my cousin, I screamed his name to get his attention, poking my head in front of his so that he'd see my face, it would all register and we'd have a nice moment-- a repeat of greeting the band. Only, this was not actually anyone I knew. I suddenly became very grateful that what I was supposed to do in that moment was turn back and run away-- quickly.
And so I ran and ran and ran and was still in Brooklyn. The hills of Brooklyn. Nobody told me there were hills in Brooklyn! At least the crowds became fun again, the bands came closer together and the signs were funny. That reminds me-- my favorite sign on the back of a Chilean who was tired of being asked: "I am NOT the Chilean Miner!" Second favorite (because it made me laugh when I needed it) was on the back of an eighty something year-old, listing his birth year, age, marathons run, and then saying "What I lack in speed I make up for in endurance. Ask my wife."
A minute of video from the Team Life Without Lupus cheer squad in Brooklyn: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=458050809175 (you can see me in the still before the video starts in the white visor and then running by soon after it starts)
[Next up: Queens]
Marathon part 1
I felt most like an Olympian in my start village. A large video screen and booming voice gave directions in four or five different languages, which means that most of the time I didn't understand them. I picked up my second bagel of the day, coffee and water, and hung around for a couple hours on curbs, the grass, or up against a tree. Pretty sure everyone but me was shivering; it was a town of goosebumps and arm rubbing. I wore two pairs of pants, long sleeve shirt, singlet, windbreaker, hooded sweatshirt and a ski jacket. I did not look the part of a svelt distance runner, but that ski jacket was my best move of the day.
Our village was right along the start of the bridge, so I got to see the elite men start in the first wave (or at least their upper bodies). They seemed to be gliding and were moving fast enough that it looked as though they were all on motorcycles. There was enough to look at people to talk to that time to my start kind of flew by. Eventually we all crowded into pens at the base of the bridge, the cannon went off and New York, New York began to play. I looked behind me for the one and only time in 26.2 miles. There were very few people; I was starting from the back.
Ascending the bridge, I looked down to Fort Wadsworth. Above the empty villages full of paper cups and discarded sweats were security teams along the perimeter of each roof. I looked back in front of me to the slow moving traffic and continued a very leisurely uphill jog. I took the extra time to thoroughly warm up rather than risk pulling something so early in the day.
Brooklyn was the best and worst of the race. Parts were incredibly lively, fully of bands and cheering residents with funny, colorful signs. I got a marriage proposal from a very enthusiastic stranger and three more asked for my number. So it was in Brooklyn that I decided I must look pretty cute in my orange and bright blue ensemble and started trying to hit the right spots for the event camera men.
I spelled my name out in giant block letters on the front and back of my singlet, but it still took quite a while to get used to strangers cheering me on by name. I loved the support and the energy, the back and forth with the crowds and high fives, but it certainly confirmed that I would never want to be super famous.
The miles went pretty quickly between the bridge and mile ten, where my first friends were waiting.
[MORE LATER-- would like to get the whole day down, but I've got to start catching up on work too!]
Our village was right along the start of the bridge, so I got to see the elite men start in the first wave (or at least their upper bodies). They seemed to be gliding and were moving fast enough that it looked as though they were all on motorcycles. There was enough to look at people to talk to that time to my start kind of flew by. Eventually we all crowded into pens at the base of the bridge, the cannon went off and New York, New York began to play. I looked behind me for the one and only time in 26.2 miles. There were very few people; I was starting from the back.
Ascending the bridge, I looked down to Fort Wadsworth. Above the empty villages full of paper cups and discarded sweats were security teams along the perimeter of each roof. I looked back in front of me to the slow moving traffic and continued a very leisurely uphill jog. I took the extra time to thoroughly warm up rather than risk pulling something so early in the day.
Brooklyn was the best and worst of the race. Parts were incredibly lively, fully of bands and cheering residents with funny, colorful signs. I got a marriage proposal from a very enthusiastic stranger and three more asked for my number. So it was in Brooklyn that I decided I must look pretty cute in my orange and bright blue ensemble and started trying to hit the right spots for the event camera men.
I spelled my name out in giant block letters on the front and back of my singlet, but it still took quite a while to get used to strangers cheering me on by name. I loved the support and the energy, the back and forth with the crowds and high fives, but it certainly confirmed that I would never want to be super famous.
The miles went pretty quickly between the bridge and mile ten, where my first friends were waiting.
[MORE LATER-- would like to get the whole day down, but I've got to start catching up on work too!]
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Last run
Last run this morning, a sloooow jog into the park and back, just long enough to warm my legs and get feel fluid. I had to remind myself to stop grinning so that the tensing of facial muscles wouldn't restart the migraines. I was smiling at anyone in running shoes, some of whom must have shared my excitement, others of whom just saw a smiling idiot this morning.
I hope to feel as happy next time I see this banner.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
What a difference a decade makes
At 16, my biggest question in life was will this ever get better?
Will I ever be able to quickly get out of bed, into the shower, squeeze the shampoo bottle, get my arms through stiff coat sleeves, pry open the fridge door, grab a gallon of milk with one hand and walk down the front steps without feeling overwhelmed by pain, stiffness and exhaustion? Will I know for sure that when I sit down for class, I'll be able to get up with no one the wiser?
I'm incredibly lucky that I have had excellent medical care and responded dramatically to existing medication. Team Life Without Lupus is fundraising for life-changing medical care for those who cannot afford it, and for research into treatments and cures for the disease, which continues to affect all of us (even those who can keep their legs going for 26.2 miles).
The $2,418.92 we've raised so far, part of the $100,000 raised by Team Life Without Lupus, will fund these medical care and cutting edge research programs of the S.L.E. Lupus Foundation.
One last call- if you were planning to donate but haven't done it yet, now is the time. https://www.firstgiving.com/katemagaram
And for those of you who are planning to come out and see the Marathon (I'd love to see you!), here's a map and information on athlete tracking:
Runner Tracker
Interactive Course Map
Thank you all for your generous support (financial and emotional) and encouragement, and for humoring me through all the marathon talk and lame bedtimes. I'm not sure how to say a big enough thank you to the people who have been supporting me for years, cutting me slack and much needed breaks, and supporting my decisions in taking calculated risks to live life as I want to live it despite lupus. My 16 year old self would not have believed I could be here in a decade.
Will I ever be able to quickly get out of bed, into the shower, squeeze the shampoo bottle, get my arms through stiff coat sleeves, pry open the fridge door, grab a gallon of milk with one hand and walk down the front steps without feeling overwhelmed by pain, stiffness and exhaustion? Will I know for sure that when I sit down for class, I'll be able to get up with no one the wiser?
I'm incredibly lucky that I have had excellent medical care and responded dramatically to existing medication. Team Life Without Lupus is fundraising for life-changing medical care for those who cannot afford it, and for research into treatments and cures for the disease, which continues to affect all of us (even those who can keep their legs going for 26.2 miles).
The $2,418.92 we've raised so far, part of the $100,000 raised by Team Life Without Lupus, will fund these medical care and cutting edge research programs of the S.L.E. Lupus Foundation.
One last call- if you were planning to donate but haven't done it yet, now is the time. https://www.firstgiving.com/katemagaram
And for those of you who are planning to come out and see the Marathon (I'd love to see you!), here's a map and information on athlete tracking:
Runner Tracker
Interactive Course Map
Thank you all for your generous support (financial and emotional) and encouragement, and for humoring me through all the marathon talk and lame bedtimes. I'm not sure how to say a big enough thank you to the people who have been supporting me for years, cutting me slack and much needed breaks, and supporting my decisions in taking calculated risks to live life as I want to live it despite lupus. My 16 year old self would not have believed I could be here in a decade.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Newark
Booked a hotel in Newark now for Saturday night. The ride should be half an hour shorter than from my apartment, and this way we eliminate a few more unknowns between me and the start (such as a Holland Tunnel problem, of which I have seen many).
For those of you planning to travel anywhere ever, you might want to think twice about booking something at a Crown Plaza hotel if, say, you'd like to show up to an available room. The steam has only stopped shooting from my ears because it's in my best interest to calm down a few dozen notches. Karma, karma, karma...
My calm self has been looking out my office window, thinking how far away the Verrazano Bridge looks to be from here, then reassuring myself that it's really not that far compared to downtown. Then I realized that I'm looking at one of the bridges to Brooklyn and the bridge to Staten Island is waaaay down from there. Yikes. Too far, too far..... I keep thinking that I shouldn't have cheated on my distance runs because now I'm not prepared enough. Of course, I ran until my GPS watch said 20.0 mi, so intellectually I'm pretty sure I followed the program. This is pretty much how all the conversations are going in my head. And in my apartment. Thanks for listening, dude.
For those of you planning to travel anywhere ever, you might want to think twice about booking something at a Crown Plaza hotel if, say, you'd like to show up to an available room. The steam has only stopped shooting from my ears because it's in my best interest to calm down a few dozen notches. Karma, karma, karma...
My calm self has been looking out my office window, thinking how far away the Verrazano Bridge looks to be from here, then reassuring myself that it's really not that far compared to downtown. Then I realized that I'm looking at one of the bridges to Brooklyn and the bridge to Staten Island is waaaay down from there. Yikes. Too far, too far..... I keep thinking that I shouldn't have cheated on my distance runs because now I'm not prepared enough. Of course, I ran until my GPS watch said 20.0 mi, so intellectually I'm pretty sure I followed the program. This is pretty much how all the conversations are going in my head. And in my apartment. Thanks for listening, dude.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Hell hath no fury...
... like a woman who, while checking for the third time, just found out her pre-marathon twice-confirmed hotel reservation is suddenly worthless because the hotel is CLOSED.
Pro tip: stay out of my zip code today.
Pro tip: stay out of my zip code today.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Halloween candy is carbs, right?
Right? Right? Simple carbohydrates, sugar, salt... stress relief.
Dedicated enough a marathoner-to-be that I've got a big bowl of goodness on my nightstand to go home to.
Dedicated enough a marathoner-to-be that I've got a big bowl of goodness on my nightstand to go home to.
Working Girl
To work today, I wore a black dress, herringbone grey blazer, and my New Balance running shoes. Switched to appropriate flats upon arrival, but still felt like as stylish as an 80s Melanie Griffith for twenty blocks.
The name of the game at this point is staying comfortable, avoiding all injuries, and keeping stress below atmospheric levels.
I've had the same type of dreams as before the SAT, LSAT and the Bar. Someone who has to drive me to the start is not listening to me and taking ridiculous detours as time ticks away and I just know I'm going to miss the start. I realize that I'm wearing one correct running shoe and one random old one. I forget my map and get lost on the course. I'm lost on Staten Island and can't find the start-- or I'm late and have to run a long distance to even get to the start. I'm starving and have brought no food. I eat peanut butter and there's nothing to drink at the water stations. My alarm doesn't go off and the hotel wake up call doesn't wake me. Someone takes too long to get dressed and can't drive me to the start. The reserved rental car has been stolen.
I suppose the good news is that there is no standardized test on Sunday. Guess I don't have to worry about last night's dream of forgetting sharpened pencils to fill in the bubbles.
The name of the game at this point is staying comfortable, avoiding all injuries, and keeping stress below atmospheric levels.
I've had the same type of dreams as before the SAT, LSAT and the Bar. Someone who has to drive me to the start is not listening to me and taking ridiculous detours as time ticks away and I just know I'm going to miss the start. I realize that I'm wearing one correct running shoe and one random old one. I forget my map and get lost on the course. I'm lost on Staten Island and can't find the start-- or I'm late and have to run a long distance to even get to the start. I'm starving and have brought no food. I eat peanut butter and there's nothing to drink at the water stations. My alarm doesn't go off and the hotel wake up call doesn't wake me. Someone takes too long to get dressed and can't drive me to the start. The reserved rental car has been stolen.
I suppose the good news is that there is no standardized test on Sunday. Guess I don't have to worry about last night's dream of forgetting sharpened pencils to fill in the bubbles.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Weak in the knees...
only leaving the park at the end of the run, when I passed this guy in the seventies on Fifth Avenue, suspiciously near the Met. We made eye contact as I passed within two feet of him, looking and smelling my best. It was magical. Long runs (and my life) are now complete.
Nerves
On a scale of 1 to 10, my anxiety suddenly rocketed to a 26.2 today.
Heading out for my very LAST 'long run'. Eight miles-- I just want to feel comfortable and natural running and get some feel good brain chemicals pumping around to calm me down.
Heading out for my very LAST 'long run'. Eight miles-- I just want to feel comfortable and natural running and get some feel good brain chemicals pumping around to calm me down.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Seriously, completely and totally obsessed with the weather
Two things that worry me a little: (1) a health issue popping up (migraine, virus, injury-- take your pick) and (2) rain.
Since everyone keeps saying the hard work is done, and work is certainly hard these days, I feel okay seriously tapering (aka slacking hugely). I've been working too many hours and know that how I feel on race day will be all about feeling healthy and rested, so my focus is on moving when I can (mostly to stay loose and in the moving frame of mind) and getting good sleep. I'll do some nice, easy, fun runs this weekend and sleep as much as I can.
Rain worries me because it increases the chances of serious, painful chafing (which I've avoided so far and would like to stay away from entirely), getting and staying cold, overally sloshy yuckiness, less of the exhuberant atmosphere that I'm counting on to get me through it, and unknown conditions (I've yet to run more than several miles in the rain and am sure there are other rain-related things I should be worried about).
We are now on the 10 day weather forecast. Rain for the few days pre-race, and then 57 and sunny for race day. A little warm, but I'd take it.
I'm much more excited than worried. I think the trick is going to be to keep down the excitement level so that I don't keep myself up at night and can focus on getting everything else in my life done before next weekend, which will enable me to just enjoy the whole experience (read: not use the bberry).
Since everyone keeps saying the hard work is done, and work is certainly hard these days, I feel okay seriously tapering (aka slacking hugely). I've been working too many hours and know that how I feel on race day will be all about feeling healthy and rested, so my focus is on moving when I can (mostly to stay loose and in the moving frame of mind) and getting good sleep. I'll do some nice, easy, fun runs this weekend and sleep as much as I can.
Rain worries me because it increases the chances of serious, painful chafing (which I've avoided so far and would like to stay away from entirely), getting and staying cold, overally sloshy yuckiness, less of the exhuberant atmosphere that I'm counting on to get me through it, and unknown conditions (I've yet to run more than several miles in the rain and am sure there are other rain-related things I should be worried about).
We are now on the 10 day weather forecast. Rain for the few days pre-race, and then 57 and sunny for race day. A little warm, but I'd take it.
I'm much more excited than worried. I think the trick is going to be to keep down the excitement level so that I don't keep myself up at night and can focus on getting everything else in my life done before next weekend, which will enable me to just enjoy the whole experience (read: not use the bberry).
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tracking and cheering on your favorite marathoner
Since I've been getting a lot of questions about how to see the marathon or track me, I thought I'd put these out there already for planning/ getting excited purposes:
Spectator Guide
Track Me! Also, for when you're out there, note that all Team Life Without Lupus runners will be wearing orange singlets.
Zoomable Course Map
As it gets closer to race day and I get more information, I'll update.
Spectator Guide
Track Me! Also, for when you're out there, note that all Team Life Without Lupus runners will be wearing orange singlets.
Zoomable Course Map
As it gets closer to race day and I get more information, I'll update.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Over this too
Shrinking days and willpower
Kind of dark out. The kind of dark that should signal I'm up early to head to the airport to sit for hours in my sweats, then hit a fabulous far-away destination rather than put on running clothes and actually move by my own power despite the sleep in my eyes, continuous yawning loop and intense urge to procrastinate (er, capture this special moment for friends and family).
Okay, and three, two, one--- off to rally, in to shorts!
Okay, and three, two, one--- off to rally, in to shorts!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Bored to death
As a kid, when I was (often) intimidated by a new challenge, my mom would remind me that we sometimes (and I often) feel that way before conquering and moving on to the next thing. Something along the lines of "scared to death, worked to death, bored to death." And it's all supposed to happen in like twenty minutes, or at least faster than you think.
I've hit bored to death. Beautiful weather, a fun playlist, a new route, and still, my reaction to having to run 14 miles on Saturday was annoyance. Two and a half hours of ugh, not again!
I was supposed to run to the Queensboro Bridge, do four round trips of the bridge and head back to the park. I made it two back-and-forths and left. It was loud and the exhaust and kicked up gravel dust stung my eyes and made me want to close off my ears, eyes, nose and mouth. As much a I am bored almost to tears running around the park these days, I headed back to lessen the impact of the miles on my joints and perhaps avoid getting the black lung. A big lap on the dirt, and I headed home at 13 miles. I had some tightness in my shin that I really did not want to aggravate.
The good part of all of this is that my only "long" run left is next Saturday and is just 8 miles, which shall be so very sweet. I get bored when work comes without a challenge, which means I've come quite a long way in building up endurance. The next new challenge to excite me, challenge me, and, yes, scare me, is in exactly two weeks, and I will have all the pent up antsyness and craving of the newness of experience to fuel me from from my comfort zone to what I've proven I can do, plus a few miles more.
I've hit bored to death. Beautiful weather, a fun playlist, a new route, and still, my reaction to having to run 14 miles on Saturday was annoyance. Two and a half hours of ugh, not again!
I was supposed to run to the Queensboro Bridge, do four round trips of the bridge and head back to the park. I made it two back-and-forths and left. It was loud and the exhaust and kicked up gravel dust stung my eyes and made me want to close off my ears, eyes, nose and mouth. As much a I am bored almost to tears running around the park these days, I headed back to lessen the impact of the miles on my joints and perhaps avoid getting the black lung. A big lap on the dirt, and I headed home at 13 miles. I had some tightness in my shin that I really did not want to aggravate.
The good part of all of this is that my only "long" run left is next Saturday and is just 8 miles, which shall be so very sweet. I get bored when work comes without a challenge, which means I've come quite a long way in building up endurance. The next new challenge to excite me, challenge me, and, yes, scare me, is in exactly two weeks, and I will have all the pent up antsyness and craving of the newness of experience to fuel me from from my comfort zone to what I've proven I can do, plus a few miles more.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Another migraine
Woke up at 7 with the best of intentions. Then my head hurt, and after two minutes of maybe I'm imagining it denial, I took some meds and put my head back on the pillow. More drugs and a couple hours later, I pulled myself together and headed to work.
Training for this marathon has been a big learning experience of becoming more comfortable with pushing myself, feeling out my limits, accepting them, taking time outs (hard), and coming right back to push myself again (even harder). Physiologically, this has been less difficult than I thought it would be. I haven't had to really "dig deep" to keep my legs shuffling forward (though I have a feeling that will be triggered from miles 20-26.2), but it has been harder than I thought it would be to stay where I need to be mentally to keep going through all the little bumps in the road, which have surfaced more frequently and less predicatably than I had anticipated-- and, most frustratingly, when I feel like I am doing everything right.
But every time I wake up again at 7 with the best of intentions, I know I've taken another step in the right direction, and I'm so glad I signed up for this.
Training for this marathon has been a big learning experience of becoming more comfortable with pushing myself, feeling out my limits, accepting them, taking time outs (hard), and coming right back to push myself again (even harder). Physiologically, this has been less difficult than I thought it would be. I haven't had to really "dig deep" to keep my legs shuffling forward (though I have a feeling that will be triggered from miles 20-26.2), but it has been harder than I thought it would be to stay where I need to be mentally to keep going through all the little bumps in the road, which have surfaced more frequently and less predicatably than I had anticipated-- and, most frustratingly, when I feel like I am doing everything right.
But every time I wake up again at 7 with the best of intentions, I know I've taken another step in the right direction, and I'm so glad I signed up for this.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Back to the morning run
Felt like I was in great cardiovascular shape--- before I even hit the entrance to the park this morning. It's amazing what having my head and chest unclogged (for the first time in two and a half weeks) does for oxygenating the body and filling out the lungs. Expanding ribs and then exhaling without coughing before expelling all the air makes being out there in the cool morning air enjoyable again.
It's firmly fall, and yellow trees poke through around the ponds. The lighting is warm and golden, the running pants have been broken out, and I pull my sleeves over my hands to start out. I'm going to have to buy a sweat-wicking headband in case it ends up being a cool day. I get a dull pain inside my ears from too much cold exposure that I'd rather not deal with for the better part of a day.
I'm practicing running in more and different layers to test for rubbing issues and tying around the waist potential. This weekend, I'll hit up a running store or two to find a wind-breaking outer layer. I'm not so worried about what to wear while running, but I do want to make very sure that I'm not uncomfortably cold for all of the waiting before the gun (er, canons) go off. Would it be insane to wear some of those heat wraps for sore muscles on my back and stomach? Probably, but I might do it anyway...
It's firmly fall, and yellow trees poke through around the ponds. The lighting is warm and golden, the running pants have been broken out, and I pull my sleeves over my hands to start out. I'm going to have to buy a sweat-wicking headband in case it ends up being a cool day. I get a dull pain inside my ears from too much cold exposure that I'd rather not deal with for the better part of a day.
I'm practicing running in more and different layers to test for rubbing issues and tying around the waist potential. This weekend, I'll hit up a running store or two to find a wind-breaking outer layer. I'm not so worried about what to wear while running, but I do want to make very sure that I'm not uncomfortably cold for all of the waiting before the gun (er, canons) go off. Would it be insane to wear some of those heat wraps for sore muscles on my back and stomach? Probably, but I might do it anyway...
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Flags
On the tennis team in the ninth grade, we ran laps, sprints and drills until exhaustion. Unhappy that we were starting to drag by the end, my brilliant coach moved our running down the hill from the courts to laps around the soccer field where the boys' soccer team was holding practice. Our pace picked up, our knees lifted higher, and spring stayed in our steps. And we felt energized.
And, um, one more word: OMAC.
I'm imagining 26.2 winding miles of screaming pom-pom-ed New York City should have a similar effect.
Monday, October 18, 2010
20 days!!
ahhhhh!
I can now summon a nervous feeling at a moment's notice when I really think about it.
I can now summon a nervous feeling at a moment's notice when I really think about it.
Massage and heels
A recipe to feel better whether or not recovering from a four hour run. A good massage the day after pushing my wall back really helps speed up the phase of limp-shuffling and 'ow'-ing every step or two around the house. Strolling the neighborhood in new running shoes made it even better, and a nightime rolling of the legs took out the last of the intense soreness.
Filling up on bread, pasta and fruit juice feels like refueling, and I'm trying to embrace and enjoy the 'you really should eat more white bread or pasta' while it lasts.
I've oddly found my two inch Cole Haan pumps to be the most comfortable thing to wear for my thirty five little trips around the office during the day. I think it's that I'm not engaging all my leg muscles since my feet are locked in a slightly-less-sharp-than-Barbie-feet angle. I'm sure it's not recommended, but it feels good and I don't care-- actually, better than flats that are less well-padded. Sneakers to and from work Working Girl style ensure that my feet and legs are used as intended and have some time to stretch out.
I continue to feel a huge relief that I was able to get in the second 20 miler, and am very happy that my recovery has been easier than the last one.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
20 again
What a day to leave the park and run down the west side. The winds off the water were high enough that I had to lean to avoid getting pushed over. For a stretch heading down, the wind was square at my back and my pace increased about 30 seconds per mile. I couldn't hear anything other than the wind, and as I started to sweat, each gust sent chills up and down my arms and legs. I had my credit card with me and was on the lookout for any establishment that might possibly have a windbreaker, vest or long sleeve tshirt in stock. I briefly considered looking for the Intrepid gift shop.
The southernmost point of Manhattan feels entirely devoid of Americans. German, Russian and Japanese tourists clogged the path as they waited for their ferries to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Annoyed and chilled through, I turned around at the 8 point something mile mark instead of continuing a bit up the east side to hit the half way mileage mark.
At the ten mile mark, I broke out the ipod and turned the volume to the highest level so that I could hear something above the wind. I stopped a couple times at the west side path bathrooms for tissues, which helped the breathing quite a bit. I cannot say enough about how impressively clean those public bathrooms are; I really want to thank someone for that.
It was such a relief to hit 72nd street again and leave the waterfront. The wind dropped to a windy but normal level and I warmed up a bit on the sunny sides of the streets. To get in the full mileage, I ran all the way up and around the top of the park, which meant the last several miles of the run were made up of Harlem Hill. Not easy. I was seriously tired by mile 18.
The run was hard, but that just reinforced to me that I needed to do it. No pain, no gain, they say. Here's to believing the inverse is true. I spent the rest of the day yesterday exhausted, in bed, moaning about my ouchy legs. Breakdown of muscle fibers or something. Now they can spend the next few weeks repairing themselves to emerge stronger.
Still no injuries. Just a bit of clothes rubbing that has left me with a couple red stripes, but it hasn't hurt while running; there's only a little sting in the hot shower.
Now, I am off for a massage to celebrate the end of the very long runs.
Next week is a 14, the following week is an 8, and then the marathon!
The southernmost point of Manhattan feels entirely devoid of Americans. German, Russian and Japanese tourists clogged the path as they waited for their ferries to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Annoyed and chilled through, I turned around at the 8 point something mile mark instead of continuing a bit up the east side to hit the half way mileage mark.
At the ten mile mark, I broke out the ipod and turned the volume to the highest level so that I could hear something above the wind. I stopped a couple times at the west side path bathrooms for tissues, which helped the breathing quite a bit. I cannot say enough about how impressively clean those public bathrooms are; I really want to thank someone for that.
It was such a relief to hit 72nd street again and leave the waterfront. The wind dropped to a windy but normal level and I warmed up a bit on the sunny sides of the streets. To get in the full mileage, I ran all the way up and around the top of the park, which meant the last several miles of the run were made up of Harlem Hill. Not easy. I was seriously tired by mile 18.
The run was hard, but that just reinforced to me that I needed to do it. No pain, no gain, they say. Here's to believing the inverse is true. I spent the rest of the day yesterday exhausted, in bed, moaning about my ouchy legs. Breakdown of muscle fibers or something. Now they can spend the next few weeks repairing themselves to emerge stronger.
Still no injuries. Just a bit of clothes rubbing that has left me with a couple red stripes, but it hasn't hurt while running; there's only a little sting in the hot shower.
Now, I am off for a massage to celebrate the end of the very long runs.
Next week is a 14, the following week is an 8, and then the marathon!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Much improved
Still haven't run, but I feel much much better and will go for 20 again tomorrow. I have butterflies in my stomach already, but I think hitting 20 again, and especially after a feel-crappy two week hiatus, will lock in a certain level of I-will-do-this-despite-what-you-throw-at-me,-world! confidence.
Dear Gods of hills, weather and health,
I am not tempting or mocking you.
Utmost respect and love,
Kate
So now that you've very generously thrown money and encouragement my way, I'm asking another favor. Please send me a note/comment/email/gchat with a favorite running/workout song. I'm going to need all the little boosts I can get to pick right back up with twenty (and it will help enhance the playlists for the big day).
Dear Gods of hills, weather and health,
I am not tempting or mocking you.
Utmost respect and love,
Kate
So now that you've very generously thrown money and encouragement my way, I'm asking another favor. Please send me a note/comment/email/gchat with a favorite running/workout song. I'm going to need all the little boosts I can get to pick right back up with twenty (and it will help enhance the playlists for the big day).
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
"You look sad"
[this morning as I started out on the elliptical, looking, apparently, not so hot]
I was asleep by ten and did a whopping 20 minutes slowly on the elliptical this morning without coughing or dying, so things are looking up. I'm just trying to get as much sleep as I can and take in a ton of fluids.
I have been assured that this shouldn't have such a terrible effect on my built up endurance, so I suppose I'm just losing some supposed-to-have-been-(but really wasn't)-built-up speed.
Adrenaline will help make up for the break in training, I'm sure. I think the more I can focus on enjoying the experience and the less I worry, the better I will do. Here's to self-fulfilling prophesies!
I was asleep by ten and did a whopping 20 minutes slowly on the elliptical this morning without coughing or dying, so things are looking up. I'm just trying to get as much sleep as I can and take in a ton of fluids.
I have been assured that this shouldn't have such a terrible effect on my built up endurance, so I suppose I'm just losing some supposed-to-have-been-(but really wasn't)-built-up speed.
Adrenaline will help make up for the break in training, I'm sure. I think the more I can focus on enjoying the experience and the less I worry, the better I will do. Here's to self-fulfilling prophesies!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Alive and kickin' (or coughing, sneezing and wheezing)
... but not running.
I got a cold last week that turned into knock-me-on-my-ass and hold me down with a fever kind of sick. I missed work, seeing the outside world and all cardiovascular activity. I ran out of air talking on the phone and tried to avoid the exertion and coughing fit from laughing.
Now would be a great time to chime in with running knowledge about fresh legs and the work already being done, endurance being maintained and muscle memory, and anything that roughly translates into 'you're not losing anything right now, so don't panic.'
Actually, I'm not panicking. I think I can jog tomorrow and the next day, and then I will make myself run another 20 on Saturday. Someone take care of Frankster if I don't make it back.
Thanks again to everyone who has been more active with the contributions than I have been this week on the road. I shall bounce back with the freshest damn legs the marathon has seen.
I got a cold last week that turned into knock-me-on-my-ass and hold me down with a fever kind of sick. I missed work, seeing the outside world and all cardiovascular activity. I ran out of air talking on the phone and tried to avoid the exertion and coughing fit from laughing.
Now would be a great time to chime in with running knowledge about fresh legs and the work already being done, endurance being maintained and muscle memory, and anything that roughly translates into 'you're not losing anything right now, so don't panic.'
Actually, I'm not panicking. I think I can jog tomorrow and the next day, and then I will make myself run another 20 on Saturday. Someone take care of Frankster if I don't make it back.
Thanks again to everyone who has been more active with the contributions than I have been this week on the road. I shall bounce back with the freshest damn legs the marathon has seen.
Monday, October 4, 2010
What I've learned since running 20 miles:
Sidewalks slope a great deal left to right. Walking on the really slanty ones engages the muscles in one leg much more than the other, and it is well within the realm of possibility that I weigh 397 pounds.
Curbs vary greatly in height. You wouldn't believe the size of some of the suckers in my 'hood.
Murphy's law proves itself again. These last couple days have of course been the days I've had to climb on my office desk chair and up a step ladder in my closet for big work/home reorgs.
Curbs vary greatly in height. You wouldn't believe the size of some of the suckers in my 'hood.
Murphy's law proves itself again. These last couple days have of course been the days I've had to climb on my office desk chair and up a step ladder in my closet for big work/home reorgs.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
And then I did it
Wednesday's "low point" was followed by a couple late nights despite feeling ill, the inevitable post-quarter crash of a sick day on Friday, a migraine, a couple rounds of migraine drugs, and a rocky Saturday morning. I woke up, jolted up as I had promised myself the night before that I would do, walked around the bed, lost my balance in the spinning room, stepped on the edge of the scale and flipped it over and fell into my bookshelf. My failed attempt at making it to the bathroom resulted in another half hour of bed time spent worrying about whether I could get upright or make up this run.
I took a pain reliever with caffeine in my nightstand and put head to pillow. I was supposed to get up to run 7 miles with the group before starting the official Grete's Great Gallop half marathon in Central Park. As the minutes ticked by, I kept recalculating how quickly I'd have to get out the door and run 7 miles to make it to the start and stick to the plan. I finally gave in to the suggestions of resting for half an hour before making any decisions, and I think that saved the day.
I was able to eat a muffin and drink some water, and I got rid of the dizziness as long as I didn't bend over. I dressed, put on my brand new fresh and bouncy white-laced shoes, picked up my race number and timer tag and got in three miles before starting the race. The weather was perfect. I needed my long sleeves for the first several miles of the morning, but my legs were just warm enough to be in shorts. The air was crisp and dewy, the sun shone the whole way through.
I stood waiting in my pen to be released at the start and found myself next to a woman keeping herself warm in a giant black hefty bag. I must have been staring at her because she gave me a dirty look and exclaimed that she was cold and asked nobody/herself/god? what the heck else she was supposed to do about it. It's not like she had some kind of grotesque physical attribute that all rules of polite society dictated that I pretend not to notice. It was early, I was having a rough morning and zoning out a bit and my half glazed over eyes caught sight of a little woman in a big shiny bag. So I looked and ended up laughing on the inside at her response, which loosened me up just as my group pushed forward to cross the starting line.
The race was two of the biggest clockwise loops around the park, plus a little to bring the total to 13.1. Just at the bottom of the long hill, a volunteer repeated to all the passersby "Just three more miles to go ... from the next time you see me! I promise you that I will be here for you. I promise you, I promise you." He seemed sincere and I found myself wondering, as I completed the next loop, whether he would really still be there for the slower pokes and hoping that he would. For someone who is not generally over-welcoming or trusting of strangers, in the effort to avoid feeling alone in these big challenging ones, I've found myself embracing random volunteers and runners surprisingly quickly and openly.
The first of the elite men sped by ALREADY. They always look like cheetahs to me, thin and graceful and incredibly fast without looking like it's hard work. It's exhilarating to see them whiz by even though it feels as though we are running entirely different events.
After that hill, I heard my name called out from the side of the road. It was two women from my running group who had just pulled over for a pit stop. I ran with them, chatting, for the next lap. We saw a few elliptical bikes and a runner behind us chimed into the conversation with her take on them as a personal trainer, and then offering us free training advice. Nice but loony tunes enough that after a few more minutes we didn't mind losing her as we headed up another little hill.
I passed park rangers with full on ranger gear conferring overly rangerly things and posting something on the light poles. A few paces ahead, I saw that those somethings were warnings about park animals testing positive for rabies. For the rest of the day, I got nervous each time a squirrel took just a little too long scurrying away at our approaching footsteps.
Then we were back at the bottom of the long hill and my volunteer man was there as promised, hands outstretched, calling for everyone to slap his hands for magic hill energy that would make the ground fly under our feet. After that, every volunteer gave a countdown, Three more miles to go!, Two more-- almost there! Last mile!
By the time they shouted for the last mile, my support person was there to smile, tell me I looked great and jog alongside me a few paces. It was exactly what I needed, exactly when I needed it.
I crossed the finish line (with a half marathon time of 2:31:10) and kept running. The finish line marked 16.1 miles for me, and I had 3.9 to go. They were not fun. I was tired, but mostly just feeling over it. I was bored by the park and had had enough with my mind games and forced positive thinking. I left the park before I should have, which meant that in order to get the mileage in, I had to run up Fifth Avenue ten blocks and then down Park. The step after my GPS watch read 20.00 was a walking step.
Next week is 14, then another 20, and then the taper down to the race. That means I just ran as far as I'll go in training!
I took a pain reliever with caffeine in my nightstand and put head to pillow. I was supposed to get up to run 7 miles with the group before starting the official Grete's Great Gallop half marathon in Central Park. As the minutes ticked by, I kept recalculating how quickly I'd have to get out the door and run 7 miles to make it to the start and stick to the plan. I finally gave in to the suggestions of resting for half an hour before making any decisions, and I think that saved the day.
I was able to eat a muffin and drink some water, and I got rid of the dizziness as long as I didn't bend over. I dressed, put on my brand new fresh and bouncy white-laced shoes, picked up my race number and timer tag and got in three miles before starting the race. The weather was perfect. I needed my long sleeves for the first several miles of the morning, but my legs were just warm enough to be in shorts. The air was crisp and dewy, the sun shone the whole way through.
I stood waiting in my pen to be released at the start and found myself next to a woman keeping herself warm in a giant black hefty bag. I must have been staring at her because she gave me a dirty look and exclaimed that she was cold and asked nobody/herself/god? what the heck else she was supposed to do about it. It's not like she had some kind of grotesque physical attribute that all rules of polite society dictated that I pretend not to notice. It was early, I was having a rough morning and zoning out a bit and my half glazed over eyes caught sight of a little woman in a big shiny bag. So I looked and ended up laughing on the inside at her response, which loosened me up just as my group pushed forward to cross the starting line.
The race was two of the biggest clockwise loops around the park, plus a little to bring the total to 13.1. Just at the bottom of the long hill, a volunteer repeated to all the passersby "Just three more miles to go ... from the next time you see me! I promise you that I will be here for you. I promise you, I promise you." He seemed sincere and I found myself wondering, as I completed the next loop, whether he would really still be there for the slower pokes and hoping that he would. For someone who is not generally over-welcoming or trusting of strangers, in the effort to avoid feeling alone in these big challenging ones, I've found myself embracing random volunteers and runners surprisingly quickly and openly.
The first of the elite men sped by ALREADY. They always look like cheetahs to me, thin and graceful and incredibly fast without looking like it's hard work. It's exhilarating to see them whiz by even though it feels as though we are running entirely different events.
After that hill, I heard my name called out from the side of the road. It was two women from my running group who had just pulled over for a pit stop. I ran with them, chatting, for the next lap. We saw a few elliptical bikes and a runner behind us chimed into the conversation with her take on them as a personal trainer, and then offering us free training advice. Nice but loony tunes enough that after a few more minutes we didn't mind losing her as we headed up another little hill.
I passed park rangers with full on ranger gear conferring overly rangerly things and posting something on the light poles. A few paces ahead, I saw that those somethings were warnings about park animals testing positive for rabies. For the rest of the day, I got nervous each time a squirrel took just a little too long scurrying away at our approaching footsteps.
Then we were back at the bottom of the long hill and my volunteer man was there as promised, hands outstretched, calling for everyone to slap his hands for magic hill energy that would make the ground fly under our feet. After that, every volunteer gave a countdown, Three more miles to go!, Two more-- almost there! Last mile!
By the time they shouted for the last mile, my support person was there to smile, tell me I looked great and jog alongside me a few paces. It was exactly what I needed, exactly when I needed it.
I crossed the finish line (with a half marathon time of 2:31:10) and kept running. The finish line marked 16.1 miles for me, and I had 3.9 to go. They were not fun. I was tired, but mostly just feeling over it. I was bored by the park and had had enough with my mind games and forced positive thinking. I left the park before I should have, which meant that in order to get the mileage in, I had to run up Fifth Avenue ten blocks and then down Park. The step after my GPS watch read 20.00 was a walking step.
Next week is 14, then another 20, and then the taper down to the race. That means I just ran as far as I'll go in training!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Low point
This is the low point. I'm sleepy tired, tired of fitting in all the weekday morning runs, and weighed down by the creeping doubts about my progress and preparation. This low point, I know, is a coping mechanism, the way I have always dealt with everything big hanging up in my sites. After an enthusiastic, prompt, proactive, all-in start, after I determinedly hang in there through the middle, I gulp approaching the last real push. I tell myself that I can't swim for real because I can't put my face in the water or I can't apply because there were those extra hours that I should have been studying for the test. I'm not going to do it, I'm going to choke, I'm going to fall short, and worst of all, nobody believes me that this will be the time that I just can't do it.
And then I rally. Every damn time. I know I need to just drop the holding-it-all-together for a brief bit first. Well, Saturday is 20 miles, so it is time for me to mentally rally. Starting it off by collecting a few of my favorite marathon quotes because somewhere after music stops holding my attention, saying a few phrases over and over in my head helps.
Because this is what I tell myself at least once a Saturday:
"It is difficult to train for a marathon; but it is even more difficult to not be able to train for a marathon." -Aaron Douglas Trimble
Because I feel like a kid playing when I'm doing it right, and creative and powerful when at my best:
"There are as many reasons for running as there are days in the year, years in my life. But mostly I run because I am an animal and a child, an artist and a saint. So, too, are you. Find your own play, your own self-renewing compulsion, and you will become the person you are meant to be." - George Sheehan
Because I break it all down this way:
"I tell our runners to divide the race into thirds. Run the first part with your head, the middle part with your personality, and the last part with your heart."- Mike Fanelli
Because my life is no longer a line of obvious next steps, and I'm in search of those that are worthy:
"The race, the marathon, is a renewal of belief in one’s self and the ultimate expression of confidence that you have created the foundation that enables you to go the distance. " - Dolores E. Cross
Because this is how I feel setting my alarm clock, but I like the call and response vibe here:
"Running is a big question mark that’s there each and every day. It asks you, ‘Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'" - Peter Maher
Because reasoning with myself can (and should) only go so far:
"Doubt can only be removed by action." – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Because I want to live this:
"The difference between a jogger and a runner is an entry blank." -George Sheehan
And then I rally. Every damn time. I know I need to just drop the holding-it-all-together for a brief bit first. Well, Saturday is 20 miles, so it is time for me to mentally rally. Starting it off by collecting a few of my favorite marathon quotes because somewhere after music stops holding my attention, saying a few phrases over and over in my head helps.
Because this is what I tell myself at least once a Saturday:
"It is difficult to train for a marathon; but it is even more difficult to not be able to train for a marathon." -Aaron Douglas Trimble
Because I feel like a kid playing when I'm doing it right, and creative and powerful when at my best:
"There are as many reasons for running as there are days in the year, years in my life. But mostly I run because I am an animal and a child, an artist and a saint. So, too, are you. Find your own play, your own self-renewing compulsion, and you will become the person you are meant to be." - George Sheehan
Because I break it all down this way:
"I tell our runners to divide the race into thirds. Run the first part with your head, the middle part with your personality, and the last part with your heart."- Mike Fanelli
Because my life is no longer a line of obvious next steps, and I'm in search of those that are worthy:
"The race, the marathon, is a renewal of belief in one’s self and the ultimate expression of confidence that you have created the foundation that enables you to go the distance. " - Dolores E. Cross
Because this is how I feel setting my alarm clock, but I like the call and response vibe here:
"Running is a big question mark that’s there each and every day. It asks you, ‘Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'" - Peter Maher
Because reasoning with myself can (and should) only go so far:
"Doubt can only be removed by action." – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Because I want to live this:
"The difference between a jogger and a runner is an entry blank." -George Sheehan
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Drizzle
Woke up tiiiiired at 7 and really really did not want to get dressed to run in the rain. By the time I stumbled outside, it was barely drizzling but very humid. I felt pretty good after twenty minutes and completed a 4 point something mile loop. The long sleeve shirt, selected in my still cool from yesterday's AC apartment, was tied around my waist after only a few blocks. Big drops from the trees splatted on my shoulder, ran down my back and woke me up. Almost as gentle as my alarm, the Rooster setting on my phone, chosen for the first and last time to wake me this morning. It makes waking up at that hour even more unnatural.
The leftover tree rain felt refreshing in the leftover sticky summer morning weather. Every time it comes back, I am grateful that the run is in November. There was an elevator inspector in my lobby this morning when I returned to the building, and I think he was not super excited that such a sweaty mess got into the elevator with him. I thought it would only be more awkward to apologize, but sometimes I wish for a back entrance to my apartment, far from the eyes of the suited or well dressed toddlers in fancy strollers- or anybody else.
The leftover tree rain felt refreshing in the leftover sticky summer morning weather. Every time it comes back, I am grateful that the run is in November. There was an elevator inspector in my lobby this morning when I returned to the building, and I think he was not super excited that such a sweaty mess got into the elevator with him. I thought it would only be more awkward to apologize, but sometimes I wish for a back entrance to my apartment, far from the eyes of the suited or well dressed toddlers in fancy strollers- or anybody else.
Monday, September 27, 2010
First Giving Spotlight
Forty days 'til the marathon and hopefully far fewer of rain. I need to spend the next couple mornings running in it, but it looks like the weekend will be clear for the biggest run ever. Look at me looking on the bright side this morning...
Also, take a look-- I'm featured this week in the First Giving Spotlight.
Also, take a look-- I'm featured this week in the First Giving Spotlight.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Worst run ever
Nausea by mile 0.5. I spent the next 13.5 miles half walking, half running incredibly slowly, working hard to suppress my gag reflex each time I passed anything gross looking or smelling. Like sweaty, hairy backs.
I woke up this morning tired and not in the mood to run. My shins were tight, so I had to start slowly, and my legs were still worn out from the 18 miler. I was overworked and tired all week, and on top of that (and because of it), I missed two short runs during the week, which makes me second guess how I'll do when the weekend rolls around. All of this goes to explain why after feeling craptastic in the very beginning, I completed the mileage. I was afraid that I was making up excuses to tell to myself to get out of it. Turns out, not so much.
This morning's run was much much harder than the 18 I did last weekend. Every minute was painful, and none of it was very satisfying.
The good news: I didn't fall behind on the schedule; I did the complete mileage. Also, I got to see a couple of elliptical bikes. And it's over.
I'm going to need to seriously psych myself up for 20.
I woke up this morning tired and not in the mood to run. My shins were tight, so I had to start slowly, and my legs were still worn out from the 18 miler. I was overworked and tired all week, and on top of that (and because of it), I missed two short runs during the week, which makes me second guess how I'll do when the weekend rolls around. All of this goes to explain why after feeling craptastic in the very beginning, I completed the mileage. I was afraid that I was making up excuses to tell to myself to get out of it. Turns out, not so much.
This morning's run was much much harder than the 18 I did last weekend. Every minute was painful, and none of it was very satisfying.
I'm going to need to seriously psych myself up for 20.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Harlem Hill
Tight shins again this morning, so I jogged very slowly for fifteen minutes to warm up. No problems after that, except that it felt like someone was pulling my feet back to the ground each time I lifted them. My legs didn't even feel very tired or sore; they just felt subject to a whole lot of mega gravity. It's a good thing Saturday will be 14 again. My legs are going to take longer to recover than after the last long one.
I circled the top of the park, which I do rarely. I'm not sure why I don't turn to go up there often. I don't mind the hills- they're really not bad, and they're shaded by big leafy trees and boulders. Harlem Hill adds some variety, and I like running by the drained pool. They've always seemed full of potential to me, and I think about rolling around inside on a skateboard or roller blades. Everything on wheels looked good this morning, easy and efficient.
With the winding around under the pool, crossing the top of the park is deceptively longer than it seems. I was out for an hour this morning. I hope the slow, longer "short run" helps keep me loose and speeds up recovery from the weekend.
I circled the top of the park, which I do rarely. I'm not sure why I don't turn to go up there often. I don't mind the hills- they're really not bad, and they're shaded by big leafy trees and boulders. Harlem Hill adds some variety, and I like running by the drained pool. They've always seemed full of potential to me, and I think about rolling around inside on a skateboard or roller blades. Everything on wheels looked good this morning, easy and efficient.
With the winding around under the pool, crossing the top of the park is deceptively longer than it seems. I was out for an hour this morning. I hope the slow, longer "short run" helps keep me loose and speeds up recovery from the weekend.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Antsy pants
I need to rest after a long run, but after a while, I get seriously antsy pants. Broke out the bikes to do a big loop around the park. It wasn't much of a real workout, but it got the muscles warm and moving, and got some serious perfectly fall temp-ed wind on my face. I was flying around the park. There's nothing like running it a few dozen times to make my biking feel so speedy.
The hardest hill, which used to be the kind of hard that made me think I'd have to get up and walk it, is now nothing to think twice about. I didn't whine and I wasn't winded.
I'm so looking forward to more perfect fall weather and more of the fallen, trampled leaves smell.
Here's the schedule of Saturday long runs and where I am:
7/31 -10
8/7 - 12
8/14 - 10
8/21 - 14
8/28 - 12
9/4 - 16 (no class)
9/11 - 14
9/18 - 18
9/25 - 14
10/2 - 20 (Grete's + 7)
10/9 - 13.1
10/16 - 20
10/23 - 14
10/30 - 8 (on course)
11/7 - 26.2
The hardest hill, which used to be the kind of hard that made me think I'd have to get up and walk it, is now nothing to think twice about. I didn't whine and I wasn't winded.
I'm so looking forward to more perfect fall weather and more of the fallen, trampled leaves smell.
Here's the schedule of Saturday long runs and where I am:
9/25 - 14
10/2 - 20 (Grete's + 7)
10/9 - 13.1
10/16 - 20
10/23 - 14
10/30 - 8 (on course)
11/7 - 26.2
Sunday, September 19, 2010
18!
The hardest part of the 18 mile run was holding myself together every time I saw a mouse. It must be shit-we're-running-out-of-time-before-the-cold-comes;-quick,-scamper-about-and-build-a-nest! time for them. And apparently all the great nest building material is across the path from the ideal home site location. For the right location, Manhattan real estate is worth running around for.
Unfortunately, in the exact spot I saw a mouse at the base of the reservoir alive, I then saw him smushed into the asphalt on the next go-round. I squirm thinking about it, which is what I've been doing every time I've seen a squirrel this weekend.
Anyway, the running on the run went down just fine. All the slow people were missing. My guess is that they decided on Tuesday (the workout I never am able to go to) to do an alternate, and far more interesting than park loops, route. So that left me alone to run from Columbus Circle up the west side to the reservoir, around the extended bridle train reservoir loop (which cuts around at 102nd Street and totals 2.5 miles), and then, um, that again another five(!) times, and back down the west side. I reached the end, after following the route laid out exactly, to see that my gps watch said I had only run 17.79 miles. Nobody cared about the exact mileage, but I would like the world to know that I did not peel off to get a finish line drink or walk or stretch. I ran another long .21 miles, exactly. I was hoping the marathon gods would see and reward me on race day.
I enjoyed the alone time. Had tight shins at the start, so I started out at a glacial pace. Then, after warming up, I ran 8 minutes and walked 1 for the remainder of the time. I ran the second half faster than the first, which is what I should be doing, but is incredibly hard to pace, and ran the last mile a couple minutes per mile faster than the overall pace.
This run reinforced for me that I've come a long way toward building up the necessary endurance, and the rest is mental. For me, that means staying in the moment and not letting my mind stray to how much longer or farther I have to (or worse, how I'll feel farther along). And I've gotten good at the mental part. I break everything down into stages to mix things up. One minute of walking after 8 running. One hour until a real snack. One and a half hours until Gatorade Formula 1 (so much more powerful than the regular kind, but should only be taken when you're prepared to sustain the sugar boost until the end). Half way through, the ipod comes out. Once through a playlist and then, and only then, can I repeat a song. Every other walk break, I drink, and once I'm into the Gatorade 1, I drink two sips of that to one of water. I don't think that getting any of this done precisely does anything other than keep my mind occupied remembering where I am on the rules, inject a little variety into one step in front of the other ad infinitum, and, most importantly, giving me faith in my own formula to finish. It's all one big special dribble before a free throw.
Unfortunately, in the exact spot I saw a mouse at the base of the reservoir alive, I then saw him smushed into the asphalt on the next go-round. I squirm thinking about it, which is what I've been doing every time I've seen a squirrel this weekend.
Anyway, the running on the run went down just fine. All the slow people were missing. My guess is that they decided on Tuesday (the workout I never am able to go to) to do an alternate, and far more interesting than park loops, route. So that left me alone to run from Columbus Circle up the west side to the reservoir, around the extended bridle train reservoir loop (which cuts around at 102nd Street and totals 2.5 miles), and then, um, that again another five(!) times, and back down the west side. I reached the end, after following the route laid out exactly, to see that my gps watch said I had only run 17.79 miles. Nobody cared about the exact mileage, but I would like the world to know that I did not peel off to get a finish line drink or walk or stretch. I ran another long .21 miles, exactly. I was hoping the marathon gods would see and reward me on race day.
I enjoyed the alone time. Had tight shins at the start, so I started out at a glacial pace. Then, after warming up, I ran 8 minutes and walked 1 for the remainder of the time. I ran the second half faster than the first, which is what I should be doing, but is incredibly hard to pace, and ran the last mile a couple minutes per mile faster than the overall pace.
This run reinforced for me that I've come a long way toward building up the necessary endurance, and the rest is mental. For me, that means staying in the moment and not letting my mind stray to how much longer or farther I have to (or worse, how I'll feel farther along). And I've gotten good at the mental part. I break everything down into stages to mix things up. One minute of walking after 8 running. One hour until a real snack. One and a half hours until Gatorade Formula 1 (so much more powerful than the regular kind, but should only be taken when you're prepared to sustain the sugar boost until the end). Half way through, the ipod comes out. Once through a playlist and then, and only then, can I repeat a song. Every other walk break, I drink, and once I'm into the Gatorade 1, I drink two sips of that to one of water. I don't think that getting any of this done precisely does anything other than keep my mind occupied remembering where I am on the rules, inject a little variety into one step in front of the other ad infinitum, and, most importantly, giving me faith in my own formula to finish. It's all one big special dribble before a free throw.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Bikers use loud voices
Biking buddies don't chat, really; they yell. I've been there and I get it, the wind whips by your mouth and your ears, the distance between you and buddy changes as you maneuver around roller bladers, strollers, runners, morning power walkers, very small confused looking dogs straining their little necks up and back to self-orient, the parent and child sharing a scooter, and tourists who wait awkwardly in groups at the crosswalk unable to figure out why all of the aforementioned fail to observe the signal awarding them right of way. Because you're slow. And we're busy and important in our doing something, and you need to figure out how to bolt across during the breaks in traffic.
But to the (only relatively) stationary runner, with less of that pesky whipping wind, being passed, the conversation snippets come in very loud and very- I imagine- unintentionally clear.
"I said 'man, throw out a number and we'll consider it' and then we slammed him!"
"Because you can't ever ever say 'spider' to me in bed."
"Bird watching is so weird..."
I mentally connect the dots, filling in just about everything. I've got time to kill and little new scenery, as my short runs are, like today, fifty-ish minutes.
Legs feel good still- and stronger. 18 sounds like the biggest number ever. Way bigger than the cigarettes I never bought or the single lottery ticket I did.
But to the (only relatively) stationary runner, with less of that pesky whipping wind, being passed, the conversation snippets come in very loud and very- I imagine- unintentionally clear.
"I said 'man, throw out a number and we'll consider it' and then we slammed him!"
"Because you can't ever ever say 'spider' to me in bed."
"Bird watching is so weird..."
I mentally connect the dots, filling in just about everything. I've got time to kill and little new scenery, as my short runs are, like today, fifty-ish minutes.
Legs feel good still- and stronger. 18 sounds like the biggest number ever. Way bigger than the cigarettes I never bought or the single lottery ticket I did.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Too sleepy
The temperature has dropped. The air conditioning, left on in the bedroom, chilled me last night, and the blankets were stolen. I woke up sleepy enough that I decided not to run.
And then I remembered that I had to. It was fear that falling behind during the week would make 18 all that much harder that got me out of my sweatshirt, out of bed and out the door.
My first deep breath outside was a relief; cool and dewy and in a breeze. I knew I'd be okay for the next 45 minutes, and I was. I was so glad that I brought my phone and was able (to try) to capture the rays shooting through the trees and the fog. They looked tangible and thick. You had to be there, I suppose, and if staying in bed was off limits this morning, I'm really glad I was.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Step down to 14 and more quinoa!
My joints felt far less pounding on the path of dirt and gravel, and I'm glad my body got this break before next week's 18 miler. Over the run, I kicked up so much dirt that I ended up with a charcoal grey band of bridle trail above my sock line that took quite a bit of scrubbing to remove. After the shower, I crashed. I actually felt really good running, but I just fell too far behind on quality sleep over the week, and that deficit, coupled with exertion and too few calories, made me crash. Crash into a PJ-ed pile of blah for, um, the entire day.
Would love to say I woke up this morning feeling great, but I just kind of felt eh. My legs felt fine, but a migraine has been creeping up on me all day. Ah, well, at least I got the big run in.
And I took drugs, so even though I am not happy with my head, I made some healthy food to kick off the week. It's red quinoa, scallions, toasted almond slices, corn, salt and pepper, and parmesan shavings on top. And it's good.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Google image searching begins
These pictures get me all excited about the people who will be speeding by me and the scenery that I anticipate will have me thinking damn, good move, Kate, New York City is the place to do this.
In other news: today was cross training on the elliptical. The end. And yes, it was exactly that boring.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Bored to run
Not into it at all this morning. Not the 7am alarm, the leaving of the covers, the finding clean workout clothes, splashing cold water on my face, nor the standing at the island in the middle of Park Avenue waiting for the "locating satellite" bar display to hit the end to indicate I'd been GPS'd through the clouds.
This is the other side of the wow-I-just-ran-___- many-miles! high. The little training runs can be boring, and boring is harder to get through when getting through it isn't passive at all and I'm tired.
I thought training might end up being miserable, and this is nowhere close. Every week there's always one day that just feels like a chore, and today was it.
This is the other side of the wow-I-just-ran-___- many-miles! high. The little training runs can be boring, and boring is harder to get through when getting through it isn't passive at all and I'm tired.
I thought training might end up being miserable, and this is nowhere close. Every week there's always one day that just feels like a chore, and today was it.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Tuesday tempo
I finally got a good (if short) tempo run in, but it was to count for Tuesday rather than really on it. I got back to the city yesterday evening at about seven and was out on Park Avenue by 7:45. Since I DO NOT RUN IN THE DARK WHERE I AM NOT IN EYE/EAR SHOT OF MANY NON-SCARY PEOPLE (loved ones, please reread the subtley highlighted portion), I kept to Park, running past the Armory, 324 doormen, and the Ferrari dealership (in case anyone was wondering, the location of choice for 60-70 year old male European tourists and their wives, if only to stand in the dark and peer in the windows) to Grand Central and back.
Nothing hurt or was especially sore from Saturday's outing. Between the sleep, rest day and the cool temp, I was able to run- not jog, really run, and enjoy it. The second best part: an extra hour of sleep this morning.
Nothing hurt or was especially sore from Saturday's outing. Between the sleep, rest day and the cool temp, I was able to run- not jog, really run, and enjoy it. The second best part: an extra hour of sleep this morning.
Stop, drop and run
A good amount of water ended up being not such a good amount of water. Five minutes in and three minutes into some "woods," I realized I had over-hydrated or under-waited before taking off. "Um, this is kind of private, right?"
Stop, drop and run.
Five minutes later:
"Now, this is totally private. Private enough."
"It's not private, it's a golf course! Are you crazy?!"
"Damn. I shouldn't have worn such bright shorts. How 'bout here?"
"Dude, are you crazy?"
"Talk to me when you've got to live with your bladder situation for another 14 miles."
Stop, drop and run.
All went smoothly from there. I chugged along, keeping to the slow but regular pace I set in the beginning. I did an excellent job of keeping my mind off the total distance of the day, the mileage left in the run and how much longer a marathon will be. I'm fine in the moment, I feel good in this moment, I'll have lots of moments that feel fine, just keep it up.
By 14 miles, the furthest I had run before Saturday, I was working harder, but my form never suffered and I was able to pick up the pace for faster finish in the last quarter mile. A beautiful day, fun road crew and feeling the payoff of endurance training meant a good mood lasted throughout. I'm actually excited to go for 18 (after a down week, of course).
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Crappy run
After a few days of feeling migrainey and generally icky, going to bed in full sweats (that's the grubby clothes and the perspiration) under down, I woke up at 7 to run. If I hadn't already skipped two days, I would have said to hell with it, but I couldn't trash the whole week. I've got to be able to physically (and mentally) get it together to run 16 miles this weekend. Undermining either getting it togetherness is the last thing I want to do.
And just what I needed- still, hot, humid air and strong sun. Why, oh why am I doing this?! Suck it up. Another four miles down.
Our coach sent around an email last week in answer to questions for several of my group members about missing workouts. It can all be distilled into this: if you miss a day or two or a few, forget it those days and follow the program moving forward; if you miss more than that, pick up where you left off (and that means you're behind, which is apparently 'built-in' to our schedule). I am not good at being behind. Being behind makes me want to give up. I do better being ahead; then I just want to widen my margin of victory. Whatever that says about a few things I might want to work on, it's my inner workings, so, fine. I'm playing my keep-psyched-about-this mind games within those bounds.
As I do the 16 mile run this weekend on Long Island with my bike along caddy staff, the staffer better have some "you are the best runner ever"s and "oh yeah, the first ten miles are much harder than the last six"s and "you look great!"s to throw at me. In marathon training, there is no room for 'just being honest'.
And just what I needed- still, hot, humid air and strong sun. Why, oh why am I doing this?! Suck it up. Another four miles down.
Our coach sent around an email last week in answer to questions for several of my group members about missing workouts. It can all be distilled into this: if you miss a day or two or a few, forget it those days and follow the program moving forward; if you miss more than that, pick up where you left off (and that means you're behind, which is apparently 'built-in' to our schedule). I am not good at being behind. Being behind makes me want to give up. I do better being ahead; then I just want to widen my margin of victory. Whatever that says about a few things I might want to work on, it's my inner workings, so, fine. I'm playing my keep-psyched-about-this mind games within those bounds.
As I do the 16 mile run this weekend on Long Island with my bike along caddy staff, the staffer better have some "you are the best runner ever"s and "oh yeah, the first ten miles are much harder than the last six"s and "you look great!"s to throw at me. In marathon training, there is no room for 'just being honest'.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Bets
Woke up with a migraine, so no running for me...
But I've got someone else's running story! Andy Roddick bets tennis pal he can't run an under 4:45 NYC Marathon. I may not have as impressive a tennis background, but at least I don't have overactive sweat glands which cause me to sweat while brushing my teeth. So I've got that.
Anyone want to bet?
But I've got someone else's running story! Andy Roddick bets tennis pal he can't run an under 4:45 NYC Marathon. I may not have as impressive a tennis background, but at least I don't have overactive sweat glands which cause me to sweat while brushing my teeth. So I've got that.
Anyone want to bet?
Kasha
I prepare it with whole wheat bow tie noodles because that's how it has always been served to me. The whole thing can be prepared in the time it takes for the water to boil and pasta to cool. The recipe: Brown kasha in a saucepan on high heat, stirring continually until it smells... browned. Boil water (twice the volume of dry kasha you've used) and pour it into the saucepan. Lower the heat so you've got it at a low simmer and cover. In 10-12 minutes, it should all be absorbed. Then, throw in the cooked, drained bow ties, stir it up, salt to taste.
No other dish makes me feel simultaneously like an athlete and my grandmother.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
11.7 down the west side
Yesterday's run was a step down, only 11.7 miles. I felt like I had really improved my endurance, and not only because I can now place an only before that many miles. My legs felt fresh all the way from Columbus Circle, down the west side highway to Chambers Street. It helped a great deal that I started running with the slowest group of women, and then, kept running with them. I used the group to hold me back in the beginning and keep my pace steady. Today was the first day that I really got to know the other runners, and it was worth giving up my walking and slowing down my pace a bit to do that.
Right after turning around to head back up to the park, our running group gained a hanger-on. Jimmy found his running group couldn't get its act together for morning training runs, so he was out on his own. We invited him to smush into formation. At some point half way up, the group separated, and the coach, Jimmy and I ended up in the front pack for the last fourish miles. In a city as diverse in potential experiences as ours, the impressive common ground it presents to its resident strangers strikes me hard in moments like these, through exchanges over traffic patterns, running paths, neighborhoods' best spicy foods and coffee. Overt friendliness and encouragement pour out between strangers. It's what happens when we crave a boost, distraction, and a validation of the exercise; when our energy is funneled into the exertion and none is reserved for wondering whether the stranger friends want to bond and run with us right back.
Back at Columbus Circle, the coach hit the bathroom and Jimmy's run went in the direction of his home. Since I was on my own anyway and had three miles more to cover, I did my a bigger than planned but not completed loop of the park, hitting the final mileage mark just at my park exit.
I was up and about for most of the late morning and afternoon, including for an hour long walk. I ran well, my legs felt great, nothing hurt, and I quite enjoyed gorging on leftover pasta from the night before. I did, however, fall asleep by 10:30. On Saturday night.
Right after turning around to head back up to the park, our running group gained a hanger-on. Jimmy found his running group couldn't get its act together for morning training runs, so he was out on his own. We invited him to smush into formation. At some point half way up, the group separated, and the coach, Jimmy and I ended up in the front pack for the last fourish miles. In a city as diverse in potential experiences as ours, the impressive common ground it presents to its resident strangers strikes me hard in moments like these, through exchanges over traffic patterns, running paths, neighborhoods' best spicy foods and coffee. Overt friendliness and encouragement pour out between strangers. It's what happens when we crave a boost, distraction, and a validation of the exercise; when our energy is funneled into the exertion and none is reserved for wondering whether the stranger friends want to bond and run with us right back.
Back at Columbus Circle, the coach hit the bathroom and Jimmy's run went in the direction of his home. Since I was on my own anyway and had three miles more to cover, I did my a bigger than planned but not completed loop of the park, hitting the final mileage mark just at my park exit.
I was up and about for most of the late morning and afternoon, including for an hour long walk. I ran well, my legs felt great, nothing hurt, and I quite enjoyed gorging on leftover pasta from the night before. I did, however, fall asleep by 10:30. On Saturday night.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
5.25 and budless daydreams
Ran the Bridle Trail plus this morning. After struggling at the start and trying to pump myself up with way too pumped for the morning music, I pulled the earbuds out of my ears and calmed way down. What running gives me is that feeling I'm after when I just want to tell the world to please go away and leave me in peace for just like 20 minutes. And this week, I'm after it.
I found my rhythm. Found my feet make a scraping sound on the gravely dirt trail, and each solid uphill push-off shoots a tiny stream of the trail up my achilles and down my sock. Found the glowing green algae down by the boathouse sits still as a solid layer an inch below the water rather than at the surface. My mind wandered to dressing separating and to summer salad with sugar snap peas, what grains I could add. Farro? With scallions, perhaps, and hazelnuts. I should try it out for gladwared lunches and then use it for a dinner party. Dinner parties make me think of crisp air and scarves and wine, and unbundling friends coming through the door. Not 'til then. Summer is for barbeques, but it's harder to have a settle in for the night dinner party in a season of no shuttering in. I want leaves turning and falling and scenting the air, and to smell fireplaces (if I can in the city).
Rounded the bottom of the park, remembered I was running on a summer work day, and crossed Fifth to get home. The respite was nice while it lasted and lasts, keeping me a little calmer through the hectic day.
I found my rhythm. Found my feet make a scraping sound on the gravely dirt trail, and each solid uphill push-off shoots a tiny stream of the trail up my achilles and down my sock. Found the glowing green algae down by the boathouse sits still as a solid layer an inch below the water rather than at the surface. My mind wandered to dressing separating and to summer salad with sugar snap peas, what grains I could add. Farro? With scallions, perhaps, and hazelnuts. I should try it out for gladwared lunches and then use it for a dinner party. Dinner parties make me think of crisp air and scarves and wine, and unbundling friends coming through the door. Not 'til then. Summer is for barbeques, but it's harder to have a settle in for the night dinner party in a season of no shuttering in. I want leaves turning and falling and scenting the air, and to smell fireplaces (if I can in the city).
Rounded the bottom of the park, remembered I was running on a summer work day, and crossed Fifth to get home. The respite was nice while it lasted and lasts, keeping me a little calmer through the hectic day.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
the unhappy hour
Too little sleep and too much rain to run this morning. Wednesday is the cross-training-is-allowed day, so I hopped on the elliptical two feet from my bed for a half hour switch it up workout. The forecast tomorrow looks clear and promising, so I'll do my best to get to sleep early, get up early, and get five miles in then.
Tonight is a team happy hour. And by tonight, I mean this evening, also known as of-course-still-at-my-desk time. I had been looking forward to the possibility of making it, as I cannot name a single person on my team. I know some of the JackRabbit people I train with, but they're all either running for other charity teams or as individuals. This is Manhattan- I cannot possibly be the only one working into the late evening. Wish they'd schedule a meet and greet for an easier to make time.
At least I've been able to make the time to train. Better mood coming tomorrow. Then rest day (!!!) and a step-back-the-mileage long run down to the west side.
Tonight is a team happy hour. And by tonight, I mean this evening, also known as of-course-still-at-my-desk time. I had been looking forward to the possibility of making it, as I cannot name a single person on my team. I know some of the JackRabbit people I train with, but they're all either running for other charity teams or as individuals. This is Manhattan- I cannot possibly be the only one working into the late evening. Wish they'd schedule a meet and greet for an easier to make time.
At least I've been able to make the time to train. Better mood coming tomorrow. Then rest day (!!!) and a step-back-the-mileage long run down to the west side.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
More bang for your buck: doing it outside
Interesting article that backs up the way I intuitively think (and feel) about exercising outside.
“Almost certainly, downtime lets the brain go over experiences it’s had, solidify them and turn them into permanent long-term memories,” said Loren Frank, assistant professor in the department of physiology at the university, where he specializes in learning and memory. He said he believed that when the brain was constantly stimulated, “you prevent this learning process.” ...“There is more bang for your buck doing it outside, for your mood and working memory.”
“Almost certainly, downtime lets the brain go over experiences it’s had, solidify them and turn them into permanent long-term memories,” said Loren Frank, assistant professor in the department of physiology at the university, where he specializes in learning and memory. He said he believed that when the brain was constantly stimulated, “you prevent this learning process.” ...“There is more bang for your buck doing it outside, for your mood and working memory.”
Weirdos
As I ran southward down the hill on the east side, I passed the same mountain lion sculpture I see most days during the week. Only, today I saw an old man descending from it. His hand grazed the snout, and then his own forehead, and then-- the man proceeded to cross himself. According to a quickie search, there's no intended religious significance to this sculpture. Still Hunt, as it's called, just "continues to inspire awe in weary and unsuspecting joggers as they arrive at the crest of Cedar Hill." Uh hu... apparently.
Coming in second, a sixty-something woman in a velour white sweat suit and pigtails ringed in gold scrunchies speedwalked while reading a full-sized open newspaper as joggers swerved around her.
Some days I like my running getup. Some days, with my hair poofing out of the top of my stylish visor, nose running in the damp cold, crud in my eyes, and socks at the bottom of the drawer that hit at that unflattering spot just above the ankle, I feel very uncute. It's comforting to think that among this crowd, I don't approach the competition.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Recovery
A little Sunday stretching and a recovery forty minutes on the elliptical much improved the lactic acid buildup situation. I think I pushed my wall back without pushing my body too hard. Now I've just got to find the time in my busy work week to get all the maintenance mileage in so that my body won't forget the endurance I've pocketed.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
14.28 miles and bigger things
Fourteen miles (plus a smidge) of the park. A five mile loop, four mile loop, and then switched directions for another five mile loop. There is something supremely annoying about running in circles. If I'm going to fourteen miles, I'd kind of like the route to take me out seven miles to see something new. There are only so many times I need to see the Met's rear in the morning or that part where in exchange for their forced asphalt torture, the horses pollute the entire street.
One last complaint. Gu does not agree with my stomach, my mouth, my anything. Disgusting to eat and left me feeling sick to my stomach after. Blechhhh.
On the bright side, I ran over fourteen miles, or about 2.5 longer than I ever have before. Overheard much talk of chafing but experienced none of it. No (knock on wood) injuries. Inch by inch, life's a cinch, as the fortune cookie says.
I've hit and surpassed the half marathon mark and we've raised over $1,000. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Far more exciting than my progress is the headway being made in medical research. The FDA has granted priority review to Benlysta, the first lupus drug to complete Phase 3 Trials with positive results. December 9th is the expected decision date for the FDA.
Here's how it works (as best I can understand):
THE RESEARCH: In autoimmune diseases such as lupus, antibodies, which are supposed to protect the body from infection, attack the body's healthy tissue. These are called autoantibodies. Human Genome Sciences discovered a naturally occurring protein, a B-lymphocyte simulator, or "BLyS". BLyS turns B-lymphocyte cells into mature plasma B cells. These mature plasma B cells produce antibodies. All good. The problem is that in lupus and certain other autoimmune diseases, elevated levels of this protein are believed to contribute to the production of autoantibodies. Research studies have demonstrated a significant correlation between elevated BLyS levels and lupus disease activity.
THE DRUG: It's called Benlysta, and was developed by HGS in partnership with GlaxoSmithKline. Benlysta acts by: (1) specifically recognizing and binding to BLyS, (2) inhibiting BLyS’s stimulation of B-cell development, and (3) restoring the potential for autoantibody-producing B cells to undergo the normal process of apoptosis (programmed cell death). Clinical and nonclinical studies show that BLyS antagonists such as BENLYSTA can reduce autoantibody levels in lupus. The results of two pivotal Phase 3 trials, BLISS-52 and BLISS-76, suggest that the drug can reduce SLE disease activity. I haven't found any significant side effects, and it is so far believed to be safe taken in combination with existing treatments.
If approved, Benlysta would be the first new lupus drug in 50 years. FIFTY YEARS. That's the Mad Men era, people.
Long story short, (1) It's high time for new drug therapies; (2) Promising research and testing is underway, and even if this drug doesn't work, we're coming a long way in understanding why autoimmune diseases surface, the first step to finding solutions; (3) Every dollar counts and the Lupus Research Institute has got somewhere good to put it.
Please consider supporting the promising research underway, grants given for exploration of exciting new ideas (more on an array of lupus drug development initiatives here), and my efforts running (often, in circles) in support of a cause that is near and dear to my heart and, apparently, B cells.
Click to contribute
One last complaint. Gu does not agree with my stomach, my mouth, my anything. Disgusting to eat and left me feeling sick to my stomach after. Blechhhh.
On the bright side, I ran over fourteen miles, or about 2.5 longer than I ever have before. Overheard much talk of chafing but experienced none of it. No (knock on wood) injuries. Inch by inch, life's a cinch, as the fortune cookie says.
I've hit and surpassed the half marathon mark and we've raised over $1,000. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Far more exciting than my progress is the headway being made in medical research. The FDA has granted priority review to Benlysta, the first lupus drug to complete Phase 3 Trials with positive results. December 9th is the expected decision date for the FDA.
Here's how it works (as best I can understand):
THE RESEARCH: In autoimmune diseases such as lupus, antibodies, which are supposed to protect the body from infection, attack the body's healthy tissue. These are called autoantibodies. Human Genome Sciences discovered a naturally occurring protein, a B-lymphocyte simulator, or "BLyS". BLyS turns B-lymphocyte cells into mature plasma B cells. These mature plasma B cells produce antibodies. All good. The problem is that in lupus and certain other autoimmune diseases, elevated levels of this protein are believed to contribute to the production of autoantibodies. Research studies have demonstrated a significant correlation between elevated BLyS levels and lupus disease activity.
THE DRUG: It's called Benlysta, and was developed by HGS in partnership with GlaxoSmithKline. Benlysta acts by: (1) specifically recognizing and binding to BLyS, (2) inhibiting BLyS’s stimulation of B-cell development, and (3) restoring the potential for autoantibody-producing B cells to undergo the normal process of apoptosis (programmed cell death). Clinical and nonclinical studies show that BLyS antagonists such as BENLYSTA can reduce autoantibody levels in lupus. The results of two pivotal Phase 3 trials, BLISS-52 and BLISS-76, suggest that the drug can reduce SLE disease activity. I haven't found any significant side effects, and it is so far believed to be safe taken in combination with existing treatments.
If approved, Benlysta would be the first new lupus drug in 50 years. FIFTY YEARS. That's the Mad Men era, people.
Long story short, (1) It's high time for new drug therapies; (2) Promising research and testing is underway, and even if this drug doesn't work, we're coming a long way in understanding why autoimmune diseases surface, the first step to finding solutions; (3) Every dollar counts and the Lupus Research Institute has got somewhere good to put it.
Please consider supporting the promising research underway, grants given for exploration of exciting new ideas (more on an array of lupus drug development initiatives here), and my efforts running (often, in circles) in support of a cause that is near and dear to my heart and, apparently, B cells.
Click to contribute
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
T minus 80!
and all I need to do is more than double the mileage of the longest run! Easy. As. Pi.
let's count down....
let's count down....
Willpower
Zero energy, all willpower.
I did not want to wake up this morning, much less force myself upright, into running gear, out the door, and around the resevoir. But I did. I did what I used to do in high school, where first period started at 7:20 and I had to wake up in the middle of the night to get there-- I counted down. I will lift my head and roll over and up in 60, 59, 58, 57....
I loosened up but never got that into it. It's sadly ironic that exhuastion prevents me from throwing enough into the run that it energizes me. At least I covered a few more miles and can check off another week day run.
At least I'm not one of the turtles who lives at the dirty end of the resevoir. I worry that they're being poisoned by the pollutants sitting mucky and still at the surface edges.
At least I have shoes. I hope the shoeless runners have had a recent tetanus shot.
When I hit the fifth or sixth 'at least' on my run, I know that what I really need to add to the training routine is sleep. Time to count down to Friday, also known as rest day or the day on which I get to sleep an additional hour in the morning.
I did not want to wake up this morning, much less force myself upright, into running gear, out the door, and around the resevoir. But I did. I did what I used to do in high school, where first period started at 7:20 and I had to wake up in the middle of the night to get there-- I counted down. I will lift my head and roll over and up in 60, 59, 58, 57....
I loosened up but never got that into it. It's sadly ironic that exhuastion prevents me from throwing enough into the run that it energizes me. At least I covered a few more miles and can check off another week day run.
At least I'm not one of the turtles who lives at the dirty end of the resevoir. I worry that they're being poisoned by the pollutants sitting mucky and still at the surface edges.
At least I have shoes. I hope the shoeless runners have had a recent tetanus shot.
When I hit the fifth or sixth 'at least' on my run, I know that what I really need to add to the training routine is sleep. Time to count down to Friday, also known as rest day or the day on which I get to sleep an additional hour in the morning.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Nutrigrain...
... is the secret to my recent success. They take zero effort from my insides to digest, are silent to eat in bed as soon as I wake up (and when I'm really considerate, I even step outside the bedroom to unwrap it), and have enough carbs and sugar to get me through the morning run without pangs of hunger stabbing through at the half hour mark.
My legs have been feeling no pain- and aren't even really tired after the long run on Saturday. I'm itching for the weekend, to be able to run farther than I ever have- again. That's really the great thing about the training at this point; it isn't all that often in otherlife that a situation provides an opportunity for both constant and quantitatively measurable improvement. And I love that.
This morning I ran four miles at a comfortable pace on very comfortable dirt and grass. I've decided to prioritize avoiding asphalt on my weekday runs, which means that in addition to seeking out the dirt paths (as I've been doing), I'm also hopping on the grass and running parallel to the road. My only worry has been that I'll step funny and strain an ankle. No problem- I'll keep an eye on the ground for the rougher, covered with longish grass stretches. WHACK. Just a tiny branch to the head. And that's how I found the greatest advantage to moving slowly.
My legs have been feeling no pain- and aren't even really tired after the long run on Saturday. I'm itching for the weekend, to be able to run farther than I ever have- again. That's really the great thing about the training at this point; it isn't all that often in otherlife that a situation provides an opportunity for both constant and quantitatively measurable improvement. And I love that.
This morning I ran four miles at a comfortable pace on very comfortable dirt and grass. I've decided to prioritize avoiding asphalt on my weekday runs, which means that in addition to seeking out the dirt paths (as I've been doing), I'm also hopping on the grass and running parallel to the road. My only worry has been that I'll step funny and strain an ankle. No problem- I'll keep an eye on the ground for the rougher, covered with longish grass stretches. WHACK. Just a tiny branch to the head. And that's how I found the greatest advantage to moving slowly.
Monday, August 16, 2010
10.28
10.28 by myself. Two laps around the park, cutting through the top at 102nd to slice off the Harlem Hill tip. It was a bump back the mileage before a big increase kind of week.
I spent Friday and the first half of Saturday wishing for a head transplant and retaining my will to live by taking too much knock-me-on-my-ass migraine magic pills. After a slow afternoon strolling the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and some rest at home, I suited up, determined to get the Saturday morning long group run in by myself in the evening. It was cool and breezy, and would have been perfect had my not-quite-exactly-magic pills not sent me from worn out hungover to seriously nauseous. As my stomach flipped, I slipped off my shoes, and crawled back under the covers.Sunday, I woke up, had three Nutrigrain bars, and headed out for a lovely couple hours. I felt all warmed up and hit a comfortable pace at the hour mark, and just kind of forced myself to focus on the fact that I was doing well in the moment, and not on the time and distance I had left. Mentally, the second loop was far easier than the first; it was nice to say to myself "I will not have to cover this ground again."
I'm sensitive to processed foods, with some of the preservatives and additives causing full blown attacks of the migraine, but I'm also increasingly concerned about all of the fake and chemicalized food that really takes effort to work around day in and day out. My head, stomach and energy level are all much improved by staying away from crap (I'm not talking about good quality chocolate here....). And the healthier I feel overall and the more I can exercise, the better my immune system does staying in whack.
My favorite part of the botanical gardens was the herb (and assorted other edible goodness) garden. I used to have a garden and thought I was pretty well versed in my veggies, but I was astounded by how many foods came from plants I would not have been able to recognize coming out of the ground. (See an artichoke to the right!)
Having a fertile vegetable garden has jumped up my life list. It'll take the place of the marathon.
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