The First TNT workouts!!!

We had our first TNT training sessions!!!! Ella and I had a blast running in the park with TNT. Check out the pics below which we took in my apartment BEFORE we ran (see how non-sweaty we looked, be thankful I didn't take post-run pics). Our first training session was last week and it was a light run- looping around the lower loop in Central Park. They are dividing us up into Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. For now Ella and I are splitting up and doing our own distances which is both sad (because who doesn't want to run with a friend) and good (because now we are making new friends!). I am of course one of the slower runners in my grouping but I will go the long distance even if I am last to finish! Within the first couple of minutes of my first run I was taking it easy and running by myself and a TNT mentor immediately spotted me alone and started talking to me- it was so cool! I kept seeing this happen, anytime a participant was alone for a second a coach or mentor would run over to them and start a conversation. This is really good because right now we are doing some pre-season training and so every run is an easy, conversation-pace run.

This week's run was a little longer- the middle 4 mile loop in Central Park. Again, I was constantly surrounded by mentors and coaches. It is so cool to meet someone new each practice, it's such a social way to run. In fact, this time I ran with 3 different people during the run. I can't thank the coaches and mentors enough for supporting us through the run! Oh, and after the running we do some light stretches and conditioning- which is nice until they tell us to get down and do plank position so that we are up close and personal with all the grime on the ground in Central Park! There was a social at Doc Watson's after practice this week and it was so much fun. There were so many people that came out after practice-it was amazing! Ella and I stuck around and chatted with some other participants for quite awhile. Then a majority of the people had left and we played a fun Icebreaker activity, which allowed us to get to know even more people- how cool!

The Run for Water-April's race

So I haven't posted in awhile and I missed the race recap for my April event. On April 18, 2010 there were over 200 global events held as part of the Dow Live Earth Run for Water The New York City event was held in Prospect Park and it was an incredible event. It was a 6K race-which is the average distance women and children walk to get water every day. I showed up late because the subway took forever to get out there but it was such a cool event they let me register and start even though the official start had already passed! Everyone there was really cool and the post race concert was amazing! I got to see The Roots and John Legend-awesome! The concert was such a blast. And there was a collection of water-related organizations at the "water village" and I stopped by a really cool booth- Athletes for a Fit Planet. We had a really good discussion about ways to be a greener runner and it was a great combination of two of my interests-running and going green!
The race itself wasn't that difficult but it was my first race after my marathon so it felt really great to be back. There was really only one hill and it was more the gentle sloping kind than an intense incline. It was the perfect little challenge for my first race back. And now I can't wait for my next races. I am hoping for a 10K in both May and June!