week one done!

Happy Tuesday!
I can now say I successfully made it through one whole week of training (only 14 to go!) The long run this week proved to be one of the most difficult runs I've done in a long time. I chose a nice flat 6 mile course down Riverside park on the West Side ending at 42nd street, because who doesn't love walking through a bunch of tourists in time square when sweaty and tired.  This is usually my favorite place to do my long runs due to it being flat and usually there is a nice breeze from the water to keep you cool. Unfortunately this time that wasn't the case. Instead I was blessed with 80% humidity to match the 80 degree temperature. While starting the run late at 10:30AM was my own fault because I stayed out too late the night before (but without drinking might I add!) I did not expect it to be so painful. After two miles my legs did not want to move and not long after my lungs seemed to refuse to let much air in. At the 5 mile mark I was spent, I even stopped the run making the excuse that it was too hot and that should be good enough. But then I started thinking...I have 15 weeks to get ready to run 26.2 miles and stopping during my runs is not going to help me, the reason I chose the timing for the training was so I'd have no slack time and allowance to make excuses. So I made myself run/power walk the rest of the mile. By the end my body literally had given everything I was going to get out of it that day but I can say I gave 100% which I'm really proud of. Since moving to the city two years ago its been a struggle to maintain a healthy lifestyle while enjoying the city and dealing with all the stressors of the "real world" which resulted ultimately in me getting out of shape which as people know for me is not something I like to be. Running in the park you see hundreds of people out on their runs pushing themselves and they have just as many and maybe even more excuses than I might have. What I was really hoping to gain from this training is that sense of  pride in what I can accomplish by working hard and knowing that I am capable of pushing myself farther than I think I can. I can tell even after a week I've started to feel better and have even lost 2lbs by watching what I eat better (although that fell apart during the weekend). Made it through my 3mi on Monday and the humidity was down to 40% and my run went by so much faster and easier hopefully more good weather is to come for this weeks long run where I will be tackling NYC Summer Streets where they shut down Park Ave for 7mi....should be interesting.

Also here is just a snippet of my workout playlist I'm working on perfecting:
Taio Cruz- Fast Car
Imagine Dragons- On Top of the World
Kris Allen- Fighters
The Fray- Run For Your Life
Miike Snow- Silvia
Neon Trees- Everybody Talks
Temper Trap- Rabbit Hole
Eric Church- Springsteen (and pretty much every other one of his songs)
Gym Class Heroes- The Fighter (notice a trend??)
Karmin- Brokenhearted
....more to come as I find them.

That's all for now!