…and the blog is back!

First off – holy moly – I cannot believe that it’s been almost 2 years since my last blog post! But honestly, I’ve been busy, and I didn’t feel I had much to really write about at the time. There’s just so much running content out there – I’ve already written a whole lot (here and for other platforms), and there are some pretty great running podcasts covering essential topics – so it didn’t feel worth cranking out new content “just cause.”

Consider this a quick “catch up with Corky” post, and then I’ll be blogging a bit about the two marathons I ran in 2022 (first ones back since 2019!), the benefits I’ve personally found from working with a coach, and more.

Like many runners, I found myself in a real funk during 2020. Between being furloughed, all races being canceled, gyms closed, and NYC being the epicenter of the pandemic, I lost motivation to do much of anything but keep my running clients motivated, and I watched a lot of documentaries on serial killers and religious cults. I also essentially ate and drank my feelings, leaving me physically and emotionally a shell of the person and athlete I was pre-pandemic. It took a LOT of hard work, patience, and determination, but I clawed my way back to feeling more like myself again.

So, what’s new? 

I am now coaching at NYC Equinox clubs, as of Spring 2021. Sadly the Precision Run Studio in NYC didn’t survive the pandemic, and so I was brought into Equinox to coach Precision Run and Elevate classes there. While it was a big adjustment – small business to LARGE business, having to run around to multiple locations within a day to be able to coach multiple classes, and pivoting to coaching on the floor in the club vs. a contained studio experience – but I’ve met some incredible people, and continue to be humbled to lead these classes. If you’re an Equinox member in NYC, come run with me!

With Equinox and Precision Run, I am still recording guided treadmill and outdoor runs – all available on the Equinox+ app. This year, David Siik and I created the first official training plan for Equinox/PR running content – a 5K program (again, all on the app). I have to say, it’s a pretty smart plan, and appropriate for runners of all levels.

In 2021, my partner (now husband!) bought our first house, which was pretty exciting. We’re now In Warwick, NY, which is a very cute and historic village. I’ve traded in urban running for running past cow farms, open space, and trails. I’m still in NYC at least twice per week, so you better believe I make the most of my time there between coaching to run my favorite parts of the city. The best (?) part of our house: we transformed the garage into a gym! I bought a refurbished Woodway Treadmill, and it’s decked out with tons of dumb bells, kettle bells, and even a cage for all the fun cable strength work. The gym is complete with disco lights, a beer fridge, and a life-sized cutout of The Rock – because he’s awesome!

I somehow made it in NYC without catching COVID until Spring 2022 – which felt like a weird victory. While my case wasn’t exactly mild, I’m thankful for vaccines and boosters, and that I was only seriously sidelined from life for a week, and from running for a few weeks.

My client roster in 2022 was the largest yet, and has been essentially capped/at capacity for over a year. There’s always a little ebb and flow, and I am grateful to be in the position where I am sometimes referring runners to other coaches, because I simply can’t take on anymore without compromising the work I provide my athletes – and I won’t compromise that. (That said, never be shy to send an inquiry!)

In 2022 I got married, ran two marathons, and have been reminded daily how much I love what I do. Runners are awesome, and it’s such a joy to support runners of varying experiences and abilities, all chasing down their goals.

Blogs on deck: I have two marathon recaps/reviews on deck – one was a big PR I’d been chasing for 5 years! I’ll share both my personal experiences, but also helpful info incase they are races you may be interested in running. I’ll also share my personal experience of what it’s been like working with my own coach for over a year, and a podcast episode we did together (he’s kinda big deal in the running podcast realm!). I have a few more ideas in mind, but also promise I will never “blog” for the sake of cranking out new content – so hopefully you find it helpful.

Cheers!

Corky

How to get the most out of your Running Coach

So you’ve decided you may want to work with a running coach, but aren’t sure where to start or how to make the most out of the experience. Not to fear, this blog will help answer most questions and hopefully guide you in the right direction for your journey!

Running coaches aren’t just for world class athletes. In fact, most folks shopping around for a coach are people with normal jobs and lives! Some are experienced runners, looking for the next edge. Others are brand new to the sport. Running coaches can be an important resource and support system to your training and racing.

[Read more…]

Phoenix Marathon Race Report

If you are looking for a fast marathon in winter, I highly recommend considering Phoenix Marathon. Phoenix Marathon, which takes place in early February, is a net downhill course with a smooth course profile – all of the ups and downs are in the first half, and the second half is essentially flat.

Running with Rebecca around mile 4.

Coming off my St. George Marathon (see the blog on that experience), I wanted a marathon on the calendar where I could focus on having fun. I’m a naturally competitive person with myself, but I was in need of a race that brought me joy. I accepted that my St. George and abortion recoveries could not be rushed, and so my training for Phoenix was definitely not ideal. In fact, I released myself from my usual structure, and chose everyday to be kind to myself. I’d say I finally began feeling like “me” again in early December. I was then sick in January for a good 3 weeks. So while I was mentally really ready for Phoenix, I knew physically I wasn’t going in as my best – and that was okay. [Read more…]

St. George Marathon: My Personal Recap

This is my second blog regarding St. George Marathon. If you’re looking for the one regarding logistics, race course, etc – go back an entry and you’ll find all that fun stuff there. This blog is going into the personal side, my experience 100% as a human, an athlete, and a gal with a big goal. **Fair warning: if abortion or topics of that nature make you uncomfortable or mad, please stop reading now – because I am going deep on this one.

Pre-race. Full of big dreams and optimism.

My training for Saint George was overall really great. I gave myself a solid 18-week plan, peaked at 70-mile weeks, and was determined to feel like the elite bib I’d have strapped to my chest was one thousand percent deserving. I did have some aches and pains through training, and I was quick to address them. With Saint George being my 20th marathon, I’ve learned over the years that its best to be undertrained and healthy than overtrained and held together by KT tape, crossed fingers and a wish. Going into the taper, I knew I’d done everything right, and it was simply about executing the plan. There was only one thing that made me nervous: my race day fueling. With having the opportunity to have my own personal bottles at the elite tables, I’d overhauled my fueling and switched to Maurten for some of my long runs. Honestly, I had mixed experiences.

Attempting to smile with Chris through tears of disappointment.

Some runs had felt fine, and others had me a bit nauseated. But I felt I should abandon my gels and use this opportunity to perhaps make improvements. After all, many of the top marathoners in the world swear by Maurten.

Race morning turned out to be a complete mess after mile 6 or 7. For the final 19-20 miles, I was essentially ill. Vomiting, dry heaving, etc – I could hardly keep down my fuel. Even water was hard to stomach. I lost track after the 8th time I fought the next wave of nausea – but for about 2.5 hours I was in complete hell. Obviously paces suffered. The odd thing was that my heart rate felt incredibly high at one point and impossible to regulate – even on the smooth downhills. I assumed it was the Maurten – my fueling choice backfired and cost me my race. I crossed the finish line in 3:11 – a solid 11+ minutes off my goal. I was so mad at myself. Physically in destress. Mentally, I questioned everything. After all, I had 2.5 hours to suffer and question my choices, my training, my potential – like, was my goal just simply outside my potential? I burst into tears at the finish line. Not the happy or emotional tears some marathoners experience, but tears of devastation, pain, frustration, and doubt.

Incredibly long story short – 36 hours after the marathon, I took a pregnancy test. I have an IUD, so the assumption was that there’s no way I’m pregnant. But I was a few weeks late (it’s happened with training before), and my nausea hadn’t subsided. It turns out my IUD had slipped (apparently this can happen!), rendering it useless, and I ran the marathon 6-weeks pregnant. Pregnancy with an IUD is often dangerous, as an ectopic pregnancy is common with an IUD and the female can bleed out. So off to the ER we go, in Utah, 36 hours post-marathon, to see if I was ectopic. Thankfully, because the IUD had slipped (irony, I know), it wasn’t ectopic and so I could pause, process and still attempt to enjoy a few days in the Southwest. Chris and I both were on the same page with not wanting to keep it, and so I scheduled an abortion for the day after we’d fly back to NYC. We attempted to enjoy the rest of the trip – though I was often nauseas, exhausted, and experienced blurred vision.

In the ER in Utah and having an ultrasound done to determine if it was ectopic or not.

Planned Parenthood in NYC treated me with nothing but kindness and respect. I elected with the in-clinic procedure. Being only 6-weeks pregnant, I was told it would be a simple and easy procedure with minimal recovery. Chris came with me and waited in the lobby for 4+ hours, and then took me home after. I was groggy, a little uncomfortable, but otherwise feeling okay. In the days following, I cramped and bled a bit. I felt weak and tired. I was told to expect 2-3 weeks of bleeding and cramps, and that it may take longer for hormone levels to essentially go back to normal. (Side note: hormones are insane. My boobs literally doubled in size in a matter of days. Blurred vision was also due to hormones and blood pressure.)

As you can imagine – it’s been one hell of a ride. Between the marathon 4 weeks ago, the abortion 3 weeks ago, I am still recovering. Mentally and emotionally I am 100% at peace with the abortion. It wasn’t a decision I struggled with. But mentally I am still processing the marathon. I’m sure it sounds silly considering the circumstances, but I put my heart, soul, blood, sweat and tears into that race – and it was a painful failure. Just today, I told Chris I still am questioning my abilities. My confidence is shook, big time. And I need to deal with that. I have had overwhelming support from friends, family and complete strangers via social media. I am so grateful. Physically, I feel great after the marathon. It’s now been 4 weeks. Recovery from the abortion has been the harder, more painful and frustrating part. But I’m trying to be patient and to take care of myself.

Being an athlete is tough. Being a female is tough. Being a female athlete is something I’m struggling with. I want women to know that they aren’t alone – be it a disappointing race, a miscarriage, an abortion, a loss of a loved one – these tough life moments happen to all of us. It’s my hope that over time we can feel supported, empowered, and inspired by each other to keep climbing, to champion each other, and to always have each other’s backs.

Willing myself across the finish line.

 

Race Recap – Saint George Marathon

With my family at the finish. 

I’ve decided to sit on my experience for a solid 4 weeks before attempting to recap Saint George. There’s been a lot for me to process mentally, and a lot of recovery both physical and mental. In an attempt to share perhaps helpful info for runners signed up for (or interested in signing up for) Saint George Marathon, this blog is focused on the race experience – the course, organization, city, weather, and so on. In another blog I’ll share the personal stuff. If you aren’t aware (spoiler alert), I ran the marathon 6 weeks pregnant and it was 100% not the race I’d hoped it to be.

Saint George, Utah is an incredibly beautiful part of the country. I flew into Las Vegas and then made the 2 hour drive with my family to Saint George. The logistics were pretty easy, and it’s advised to drive into high elevation versus simply flying into it. As a New Yorker, I’m essentially at sea level most of the year. Saint George is at about 2500 ft and the starting line is up around 5000 ft.

I’m all about simplicity and low stress for a goal marathon, and so I booked the Hyatt in Saint George, which literally shared a parking lot with the Convention Center – the home of the race expo. An unexpected bonus: there’s a paved running/bike path and was right outside my hotel door, perfect for that shakeout run. The hotel has an outdoor pool and hot tub, and a tiny gym in case you need space to stretch, foam roll, etc.

The race expo was super easy. For the folks interested, there were the usual vendors marathoners expect. Personally, I usually just want to get in, get my stuff, and get out. Energy can be wasted at expos, it’s not advisable to try new snacks the day before a race, and I find the crowds often overwhelming. With this being my first elite bib, I had to bring my personal water bottles to the expo with me. I dropped my bottles off with volunteers (they’d be placed on the course the next day) and retrieved my bib from a special area. Otherwise it was the standard expo procedure.

For carb loading, there is a pasta dinner hosted at the Expo. However, there’s also a Cracker Barrel across the street, and so I opted for pancakes. Post-marathon we enjoyed steaks at Rib and Chop, and we also indulged our East Coast senses with In ‘n Out Burger a few times.

The day before the marathon, my family and I hopped in the rental car and drove the full race course. It was incredibly helpful to get a visual and to get the elevation profile under my belt. The downhills were generous and steep, but so were some of the climbs. The big reality check was Veyo, mile 7, where you climb for over a mile – at one point there’s a sign about an 8% grade up for vehicles. There was also a notable climb around mile 19 – which reminded me a little of Heartbreak Hill in Boston. Completing the drive left me feeling cautiously optimistic about the next morning. The course played into my strengths, and I was excited to blow my PR out of the water. I’d trained incredibly hard, pretty darn smart, and felt confident that the course and I were a really good match.

Race morning I awoke at 3am. With it being a point-to-point course, all marathoners had to board the buses at the finish line and be bussed up to the starting line. Multiple emails had been sent over the months stressing the boarding time ranged from 3:45am-5:20am – as the buses would be literally driving on the marathon course and needed to be cleared for the 6:45am start. Not one to be late or compromise my goal race, I was on the bus around 4:15am. There were no crowds waiting to board, and it was an incredibly smooth morning. Chris drove me the 3 miles from the hotel to the bus, I hopped on the bus, and off to the starting line I went. The bus ride was about 40 minutes, and I was at the starting line by 5am.

Upon arrival at the starting line, it was raining. The rain in the forecast was predicted to clear by 7:30am. However, this meant standing around in 45 degrees and rain for a few hours. I was a little surprised and disappointed to discover that elites were not given a tent. We were given our own area with our own porta-potties, but we were out in the elements like everyone else. While this was my first elite bib, to the best of my knowledge, elites at most races are given shelter from the elements. Luckily, I was prepared with extra clothes and volunteers handed out Mylar blankets – which are water proof.

The rain continued up until the starting of the marathon, and we passed the hours of waiting hanging out by fire pits, hopping into the porta-potties, and making small talk with each other. As it neared 6:45am, it was announced that the start would be delayed by “10-15 minutes.” I was really surprised, as Saint George Marathon has a reputation and brags about being one of the most organized marathons in the country. I was not thrilled to stand around in cold rain for additional time. The 10-15 minutes eventually turned into 30 minutes – and it was poorly communicated how and when we’d start. The reason for the delay: runners were late to board the last bus. The New Yorker in me was pretty pissed. It was clearly stated that the last bus would leave at 5:20am, and apparently the last one didn’t actually leave until 6:20am – A WHOLE HOUR BEHIND SCHEDULE.

Bib pickup at the Expo

Once we did start, at 7:15am, it was still dark and raining. The road was wet and my shoes splashed through puddles. The sun rose on a fast and mostly downhill 10K. I knew about this potential trap and relaxed and just tried to wake up my legs. At mile 7 you hit Veyo – the first opportunity for spectators and crowd support, and that big monster hill. It’s then a gradual climb until mile 12. Mile 12-19 is practically all downhill. Some parts are steep, others definitely more gradual, and there were a few little climbs in the mix. Mile 16, Snow Canyon, offers the next big spectator opportunity. By this point, the rain had stopped and I could begin to take in the grandeur of the course. Aside from Mile 19, you continue to descend to Saint George. Once in Saint George, its residential and there are a few turns. The road flattens out and you can see the finish line for probably 800-600M before you cross the line.

A few takeaways:

  • Train for hills – up and down. This kind of course can be absolutely relentless. The soreness after a flat marathon is nothing compared to a hilly one.
  • Being elite, a volunteer was ready with my bottle in hand as I’d come through. This was really nice. A volunteer perhaps 200M from the hydration station would radio in my bib number so that the person at the table would be ready for me.
  • The course is really beautiful and fast if you’re ready for it. It’s definitely a negative-split course on a good day.
  • Everyone in Saint George was incredibly nice and supportive. The hydration volunteers yelled how much they loved my bottles (they were by far the best decorated!).
  • Expect temperature at the start to be VERY different than the finish and dress/prepare accordingly.
  • There’s no tree coverage or shade. For me, it was either raining or overcast. But I know in years past, if its a sunny day, runners have baked out there on this race.
  • For the love of God, get to the busses extra early. That extra 30-60 minutes of sleep will not change your race day, but you may delay the race for literally 8,000 people.
  • Having family on the course is always a boost, even on a bad day.
  • Saint George is absolutely a race I’d recommend to marathoners.

Take note that unlike most marathons, Saint George always takes place on a Saturday. I assume this is for religious reasons (Utah is mostly Mormon) so be prepared to adjust travel plans if you are used to Sunday races.