We’re in the home stretch, though, and I can’t wait for you to see the end result 
This morning I ran the NYRR Pete McArdle XC Classic 15K. The longest I’ve ever run was 8 miles (which was just last Tuesday!), so, last night, in anticipation of the strength I’d need to get through the race, I grabbed my special Russian Snickers bar. I’m not a huge fan of candy bars, but when I saw that this was made with hazelnuts, I knew I had to give it a try. Pretty good!
I lay out my race gear…
- Compression running tights
- UnderArmour sports bra
- UnderArmour tank top
- UnderArmour long sleeved shirt
- Headband
- Heart rate monitor
- Ear warmer
- Gloves
- RoadID
- 2 Hammer Gel packets
I broke two cardinal rules of racing: you are never supposed to try out new gear on a race day. However, I wore my new running tights and my new tank top and decided to risk it.
Before a race or a long-run, I usually fuel up with the same meal: toast with nut butter, honey and a banana. We didn’t have any fresh bananas today, so I used my Peeled dried bananas that I received from the Summit in August.
Using Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin bread, I spread almond butter on one piece and flaxy peanut butter on the other. I topped both with cinnamon, agave and the dried bananas. I brought my mug of coffee with me in the car, spilling only once 
The race was in Van Cortlandt, a park in the Bronx and the biggest in the city. It was already raining when we got there, so I ran to the registration booth while Ari found a parking spot and warmed up the car. It was my first time using a time chip!
We got there early, so we took shelter in the warm car away from the rain for as long as possible.
I started to get antsy and a little nervous…
… so we headed to the starting line.
The group was small, so we only waited around for a minute or two. (I was one of the last people starting, unfortunately, because last night while I was getting my things ready, I couldn’t find my iPod anywhere. Running for 1.5 hours without music (and distraction) was not an option, so Ari leant me his fancy iPod Touch, which I hadn’t taken the time to learn to use, and fumbled a bit to make sure it was on.)
Ari ran with me for a minute or two until he found my mom among the spectators. After that, I was on my own!
I started off slowly and steadily, and kept my pace throughout. As I’ve said, this was my first time running 9.3 miles, so I treated it like a long run and didn’t try to make any specific time. I just wanted to get through it. It was really hard. The distance wasn’t so much of a problem, but there were so many hills. They were very steep, and wooden steps had been jammed into the dirt as make-shift steps. At some point, it felt like I was running straight up! It was also pouring throughout the whole run, and the leaves were wet and slippery. My right knee started to hurt about mid-way through the first third of the race, and while it felt like it got better for a time, didn’t let up throughout the entire run.
The race was made up of 3 laps, 5K each. This photo was taken after my first lap… my expression says it all.
I didn’t know how I would feel about the lap layout, but by the time lap 3 came around, I really appreciated knowing how close I was to the finish line. When I was about 100 feet away, a woman came up next to me and shouted, “Come on, you can beat me! I’m probably 20 years older than you… RUN!” So I ran.
I did it!
The official chip times won’t be up until tomorrow, but here are my unofficial statistics:
Total distance: 9.3 miles (15k)
Total time: 1:33:31 (about a 10-minute mile, which is what I’d been aiming for)
Maximum heart rate: 198
Average heart rate: 184
Calories burned: 1198
Unfortunately, as soon as I started walking, my knee really started hurting, and all I could think about it was getting some ice. My mom went home, and Ari and I met my friend Danny for lunch at the Riverdale diner. What a couple of hams.
I got an egg white omelet with spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms and feta, with a side of mangu (mashed potatoes made with bananas and caramelized onions… had a couple bites)…
… and toast.
Danny has been brewing his own beer, so he gave us a 6-pack sampler to try.
We split a bottle of Chocolate-Raspberry Stout.
So good! It reminded me of the flavored beer I drank in Belgium when I studied abroad. We very impressed. We also had hot chocolate, which my mom had brought to the race in a thermos. It was still hot 6 hours later!
I was pretty wiped from the race, so I napped a little until it was time for dinner. We still haven’t gone grocery shopping, so I made something quick and easy: Annie’s Mac & Cheese with nutritional yeast, chili flakes, canned tuna & spinach.
Ari got a little more creative with his meal…
He made whole wheat linguine with spinach and tomato in a tomato-garlic sauce. Should have asked for a bite!
I spent the rest of the night doing some reading for tomorrow. I broke for some brain fuel: Candy Cane Lane tea and biscotti my mom brought me. Have I mentioned how much I love biscotti?
It seems that running outside in the cold rain did wonders for my cardiovascular system, but I’ve got a bit of a cold-y cough. I took some Nyquil and it’s making me pretty sleepy, so I’m going to say goodnight!
Remember when?
Have a great week
Loving this new layout and congrats on the race…great job!
Yay! Congrats!
I love all the pictures of you, they’re great.
And when I saw that Russian candy bar, I got really excited
YAY!!!!!
I AM SOOO PROUD OF YOU, KATIE!!! I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT!!!
i am so happy for you! congratulations, honey bunch! love yoooouuuuuu!!!!!!!!!
Wow! What a great couple of posts. Be careful with the knee and the cold, and enjoy your triumphs.
FABULOUS blog layout and race!!! xoxo
i’m so behind on my blog reading – but omg! i’ve missed so much!
ok, i love the new layout, especially the header. more importantly, congrats on the race, awesome time, and setting a new pdr. all amazing.
i’m sorry your knee started acting up – i’ve decided “knee” is my least favorite word in the english language.
and most importantly of all, congrats on the job!!! i may have squealed when reading that haha. but you really deserve it, and i’m so happy you found exactly what you were looking for. i got some good news too – slightly different but it’s a big step in the right direction, and in the meantime i’ll be joining the monday-friday crowd too after new year’s.
yay, stability!
let’s do coffee very soon!
Congrats on the race lady!
New music, food, fitness + giveaways – http://katiechangesforkatie.blogspot.com/
Come visit! Happy MONDAY FUNDAY!
Katie
Congratulations on the race!! I would have given up as soon as I saw the raindrops.
Love the new look.
<3 <3
ahhhhhhhh! Congrats girl! that is super super exciting. So happy for you
Great breakfast after. Love how supportive Ari is. And I need to start putting peppermint in my hot cocoa- deliciousness.
YES! You should totally cook up Ari some meat. I make my best guess on the timing and sometimes will have Josh check it if I’m unsure. Its kind of fun to cook meat even though I don’t eat it
Happy monday!
Good luck with all of the new excitement in your life
Congratulations on your race! Those conditions sound awful but you did an incredible job!
I love the new layout!
LOVE the new look!! Snickers with hazelnuts? I’m kind of glad they don’t sell those here. Could be dangerous!
CONGRATS with your race! That’s awesome – well done, my dear
I am loving the new layout! it looks wonderful!!!
congrats on the race! such a great job!!!
Congrats! That’s an awesome accomplishment! Some day I’m gonna do one of those. Until then, I’ll be hitting the 10K’s
I love your new layout dear!! And congrats on your race…awesome! I do not know how you rain in rain, girl…go you
yayy congrats on your race. you even look cute running a 15k!
and omg is that a candy cane in your hot cocoa?! if it is, it looks amazing and i must try!!
oh and of course your new layout is fabb! love orange and the banner is so unique
GREAT JOB at the race! I actually grew up in the Bronx and just moved to Rockland County a few years ago, so I totally understand the hills at Van Cortlandt Park.
Good luck with the new job!
Nicole G
I ran too! It was crazy–those conditions were ridiculous…it was kinda blast though, no!? Nice job!!
Congratz on finishing the race girl! Great job!
Great Job!! From what you wrote it looked like a major challenge!
Btw the layout is really cute. All bright and cheery
CONGRATS KATIE!!!! I’m glad ze blog is letting me comment, since I tried to on an earlier post and it disappeared when I clicked over from googlereader–i was so bummed!
The new layout is adorable, by the way! Can’t believe you ran for that long!! Mayjuhhh props, girl
And yum. I always love the LVP diner breakfasts’! Egg white omelets w/ veggies and feta is the besttt. Feta is so good, right?? i just made a HUGE salad with some feta, and had kashis on the side (plus other rando sorority house food)…ohhh gotta love the college eats! haha– enjoy your tueday, and feel better!
I did a half marathon a few weeks ago — and before doing it, 10 miles was my longest run. Adrenaline is amazing, huh?
My husband brews, too, and marks his bottles the same way!
SO PROUD OF YOU!!! you seriously amaze me, i can’t wait to hear more about everything when we finally catch up… soon right?! xoxo
So proud of you. The hills in the rain must have been a killer.
[...] do a 20 minute Hip Opening Flow in my pyjamas. I haven’t done any exercise at all since my race; I’m hoping to have time to run again or go to the gym again this weekend. In the meantime, [...]
[...] This was going to be my second time running 9 miles (the first was two months ago, at the NYRR Pete McArdle XC Classic 15K) and I’d expected my knees to hurt a little, but the pain not to be debilitating. Wrong. [...]
[...] I didn’t get my usual hot chocolate after the race yesterday, I needed something like it today. I asked for a skim mocha, but [...]
[...] today I took the plunge, and as soon as I renewed my membership to NYRR, I signed up for the Pete McArdle XC Classic 15K in Van Cortlandt Park, which I also ran last year. It was one of the hardest runs I’ve ever [...]
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