“Is the grass always this green in Central Park?"

… is what I heard the plump and heavily bejeweled tourist say to the driver of her pedi-cab as he pedaled furiously past our running group. He smiled, catching my smirk as he turned back to reply, “Well, not in the winter.” She managed to snap a picture of the yoga class on the lawn before they clambered off.

I’ve started looking forward to running with the NYC training chapter in Central park during their Wednesday meets. Their group is broken into experience levels without the pressure of having to stay within a certain group level. This week, the beginners ran a little over 3 miles from Columbus Circle to the reservoir, Engineer’s Gate and back around the East Bend. Good even ground with gradual inclines. Intermediate took an extra lap around the reservoir and cut through half of the East Bend while the experts ran backwards to Philadelphia and back in the same amount of time.

As much as the city has complained about the cool start to the summer, it has made for great training weather. The grass has been the greenest I’ve ever seen in the park and the air for once smells fresh and clean. Good introduction to the lungs during our “Base Building” weeks. The first 4 weeks of the 15 week training program primarily focuses on technique and improving overall ability.

That means during our runs we’re focusing on stride and breathing. On the 6-day a week schedule, I’m running on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Swims for Base Building is also all about technique/stroke and re-learning how to breathe. Those are on Mondays, Thurs, and one of the weekend days (extra on my side because it’s the scariest part for me!) Biking is twice a week, Tuesdays and Saturdays. Making those thigh muscles Thoroughbred strong with hill drills. One of the girls training for the Nation’s Triathlon (Washington DC) sighed with contentment blithely stating DC was nice and flat. (ugh.) They didn’t name parts of Westchester “Mount something-or-another” for no reason.

Tomorrow is Brick. That means a bike GTS (Group Training Session) followed by a run. Good to mimic what is to come. With all the rain we’ve been having, scheduling GTS has been tentative. Workouts will continue in the rain but cancelled with thunder and lightning. I imagine myself as Lt.Dan in the crow’s nest of Forrest Gump’s boat yelling at God for a challenge in the storm.

Enough of the boring schedule updates; what’s the latest Triathlon Newbie embarrassing moment? Must have been during cool-down core workout in the muddy grass of Central Park as everyone quietly meditates deep in elbow plank and I blurt out, “My patch of grass smells funny.”

The Mental Game - discovering how much you really like your own company

RUN FORREST, RUN... was what I kept muttering under my breath as today's training took a 4 1/2 mile loop around Central Park. That's because I had the brilliant idea that training without music will "prepare" me for the real mental game.

What I discovered was that not too many things run through my head while engaged in physical activity. Some might consider this a great escape - a mental retreat - from having to worry or think. I'm just concerned I don't actually find myself interesting.

JPMorgan was hosting their corporate challenge on the main road, so our little pack started from Columbus Circle, down the bridal path (watch out for poop!) and a couple of loops around the reservoir. Each loop is 1.5 miles plus a mile or so along the bridal path back to Columbus Circle.

The reservoir is a tranquil, scenic route, perfect for meditation. Perfect for one to reflect on how truly they hate themselves. I think it was the boredom that hit first. Just the constant "in through your nose, out through your mouth" sounds I could hear myself make. And how the monotony of each step was broken up by puddle... puddle... dog poop... puddle. I tried focusing on the runner ahead of me, matching strides all the while thinking, "are my legs that much shorter?"

Self-loathing sinks in around mile 3 and I move from humming show tunes to yelling in my brain. What the heck are you doing? God I can't believe I have to do this all summer. I suck. Is everyone ahead of me? I just want to stop. If I stop I can sit on that bench. Just 2 minutes, no one will notice. My calves feels funny. Am I cramping? Ooh ice cream. I wish I could just push ahead of this pack. I'm tired. How much looooonger? Can we all JUST STOP. Don't stop, don't stop, don't stop, don't think.

Ew, was that poop I just stepped in?