EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women Recap

What kind of idiot runs a 5K with a shoulder injury?  That would be me. 

I don't totally understand what's wrong yet, but I've seen an ultrasound (which is way cool, actually) and it's pretty inflamed.  I'm supposed to rest it for the most part, but I'm allowed to work out as long as it doesn't hurt.  I decided this meant I could run the EIF Revlon Run/Walk. 

This 5K event takes place annually to raise money for women's cancers.  Years ago, before it ever occurred to me that I could run, I volunteered at this race handing out lip gloss to the participants when they finished.  This year, I wanted to run it.  

I take part in a lot of races and spinathons and events that raise money for all sorts of things.  To be honest, I don't usually give that aspect a ton of thought.  I'm happy to write a check or raise some funds, but I'm usually in it for the event.  This one was more personal, though.  One of my best friends is in the process of kicking cervical cancer's ass.  So, I figured I'd walk if I had to, but I wasn't going to sit on the sidelines.

   

I got there early enough to snag a spot right at the start line.  I'm usually in the third to last corral or so for most Road Runner races, so being right up front was new for me. 

While we waited for the race to start, we were entertained by various celebs including Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Dr. Oz and Trey Songz.  Dan'yelle Williamson sang a song from the musical Memphis, and wow - that woman can sing. 

I also got to chat with some of the awesome runners around me.  I met a teacher from Illinois who comes to NYC for this race every year, and a woman with stage four ovarian cancer who's been in remission for seven years. 

I wish I had a good crowd shot to show you the vibe in Times Square.  It was packed, but in an awesome way - not like New Years.  The weather was perfect, and people were so, so jazzed to be there.  At 9:00 am, the red and white confetti was launched, and we were off.

Before this whole shoulder thing happened, I really wanted to run this fast.  Most races I've done are four or five miles, so I figured I'd be able to go faster in a 5K.  That plan went out the window with my shoulder injury.  I ran most of the race with my left arm just dangling by my side to keep it from tensing up.  I'm actually most proud of myself for not using my stopwatch at all.  Go me.

I don't have a witty closing today.  Instead, I have a request: If you haven't already, please talk to your doctor about vaccination.

-Gym Belle-

Gympressions Turns One!

It's my first blogaversary!  Exactly one year ago today, I posted Spin bikes that move!, and Gympressions was born.  I've decided to mark the occasion with lists.

Five Favorite Posts From Year One

1. Princess in Training: Some Thoughts on Running
2. I Like to Move It, Move It
3. Carry a Big Stick
4. Yoga with Biggest Loser's Bob Harper
5. So, How Was It? (The Long Version)

Five Things I'm Glad I Tried in Year One

1. The Pool in Central Park 
2. Jukari
3. Fight Gone Bad
4. (Static) Trapeze Class
5. Zumba

Five Things To Do in Year Two

1. Unassisted pull-ups (I'm soooo close!)
2. Learn how to ride a bike (It's about time!)
3. Beat my half marathon time
4. Make yoga a part of my routine - for good
5. Successfully complete a Social Workout challenge

Thank you, thank you, thank you to my readers, followers, fans, subscribers, tweeps, blends, commenters and friends.  Without you, I'd be talking to myself.  And that would be sad.  So, show me some blogaversary love and say hi, or tell me what you'd like to see on Gympressions in year two!

And Happy Earth Day!

I'll keep you posted!

-Gym Belle-

How I Injured Myself Watching the Boston Marathon

I want to tell you all about how much fun it was to watch the Boston Marathon, and brag about how well my sister ran it.

The thing is, I'm somewhat distracted by the pain in my left shoulder.  Yes, my friends, I managed to injure myself spectating. 

My mother had woken up at 6:00 am to stake out our spot about half a mile from the finish.  It was a good spot at the top of a hill (not Heartbreak Hill, but a hill nonetheless) and right before a turn.  When I joined her a little after 10:00, people were starting to gather.  The first wave of runners started at 10:00, so there was still plenty of time and plenty of room.  Still, my mother and I stuck to our spots, right behind the metal railing. 

Eventually, the wheelchair athletes started to race by.  People went nuts.  And then we saw Teyba Erkesso (2:26:11) and Tatyana Pushkareva (2:26:14) zip past.  I had such good footage of this, and of the men, too, but when things got crazy, I somehow managed to hit "delete all" on my camera.  So, you'll have to take my word for it, but these people are fast.  I mean, I know I'm slow, but I just ran a half marathon in 2:15.  And these women ran a full in just over that.  Wow. 

After the super fast people came by, the really really fast people started to trickle in.  That's when it got crowded.  At that point, I realized that I was pressed against the metal rail.  Someone's grandma was squished behind me for ages, ringing her cowbell against my butt, but there really wasn't much I could do about it.  For much of the time, I couldn't turn around to talk to my dad behind me.  I couldn't even get my hand into my purse to check my cell phone.  I wasn't really thinking about that, though.  Everyone was cheering and happy, and so I just kept looking left to where the runners were coming from.  I guess I don't usually spend so much time twisting to the left.  Hence, the strained muscles.  So lame.

Anyway, here's what it looked and sounded like from the sidelines:

The girls you hear shrieking were local college students, and they shrieked for everyone.  They were very entertaining.

We were supposed to get updates via text message telling us where my sister was, but those never came.  My dad was able to look it up online, but for some reason I don't totally understand, the online updates were in kilometers.  Now, I know that a kilometer is about 2/3 of a mile, and that a 5K race is about 3.1 miles.  Still, who wants to do math while watching a marathon?  Fortunately, they also gave her projected finished time, and since we were close to the finish and we knew when she started, we more or less knew when she was coming.  And here she is (green tank top), looking totally fine half a mile to the finish, and very happy after:

 3:48 something.  Pretty darn fast.

 

 -Gym Belle-