woops! i forgot i have a 15k next weekend..

that's right.  i forgot.  i FORGOT that next sunday, i need to run 9.3 miles.  i mean, it all works out because after last weekends NYC half marathon, 9.3 miles is definitely doable. i just think it's kinda funny that i forgot about a 9.3 mile race.

some races completely consume your life. whether its your first 5k, your first half, your first marathon, or your 37th marathon, these races become a part of you for however long you train.  for me, training for the nyc marathon has essentially been my life every june-november for the past 3 years.  it becomes this huge part of who i am during those months.  "hey, how are you?" "tired, sore.  i'm training for a marathon." "ang, how was your weekend? "good, i had to run 16 miles." and so on...

the nyc half-marathon last weekend was like this for me as well.  i wanted to PR.  i wanted to feel good.  i wanted to run well for my parents and he-who-must-not-be-named.  i wanted to rock NYC just like my first nyc half.  so i trained.  i trained hard.  and the date march 18th was etched on my brain.  i was NOT forgetting this date.

but april 1st?  two days ago if you were to ask me what i'd be doing on april 1st, i'd probably ask you what day of the week it was.  or if you were planning on april foolsing me.  turns out, on april 1st i will be running 9.3 miles.  go figure.

last week i had no desire to run (thanks, nyc half) so when i got home early on thursday afternoon and it was a gorgeous 70+ degrees outside, i took to central park for a walk.  it was lovely.  i never really enjoy central park the way it should be enjoyed. i definitely don't soak in all the awesomeness when i'm running through it.  i ended up completing about 7 miles, averaging about an 18:30 pace.  super fast, i know.  i might take up speed walking next. professionally, of course.

taken at engineer's gate on 5th avenue.

ya know what happened when i woke up the morning after my walk? I WAS SORE.

what?!? yes, i was sore.  from walking.  sore after a PR 13.1 mile run? NOPE. sore after a 7 mile walk? YEP.

unbelievable.

this past saturday, i took advantage of the beautiful early spring nyc is having and went for a slow and easy run in central park.  i kept my pace extremely comfortable and relaxed (10:25) for 6.5 beautiful central park miles.

also, i was still sore saturday morning (yes, from my WALK on thursday afternoon) so i figured running would be a little more challenging than usual.  turns out, once i stopped walking and started running, i wasn't sore anymore.  i figured hey this is awesome, i'm loosening up and working out my soreness!

HA! the second i stopped running and started walking, the soreness returned.

moral of the story? run, don't walk.  walking is dangerous.

has anyone else ever forgotten about a race? anyone training for a spring race and so excited (or nervous) that there's no way you'll forget?