2017 Shape Women's Half Marathon Recap + Video

Start to finish of the 14th Annual Shape Women's Half-Marathon

Central Park, NYC was again the launch spot for the 2017 Shape Women's Half-Marathon this year. XTreme XTraining was again Media Partners with ABC News, Good Morning America, and Shape Magazine!
Celebrity guest runners included Amy Robach, host of ABC's Good Morning America, Jen Widerstrom Fitness Trainer for NBC TV's The Biggest Loser, and Olympic Medalist, Deena Kastor, record holder for this race.

New since 2016 are the relays which pair members of the NYRRs Club with celebrity runners. Team members ran a leg of the race course rather than the entire 13.1 miles. A great idea since for many guest runners, this is the first time tackling mileage of any kind.

NYRR Club members paired with celebrity runners for relay teams. 

Sunday, April 30th was a cool, overcast 61 degrees or so when I arrived at the press tent next to Tavern on the Green in Central Park West. This year over 9,600 runners signed up for the race which had media partners, ABC News, Good Morning America and Shape Magazine. Other race sponsors included Bloomingdale's, Motrin and Advocare.  Commemorative 2017 Race Tee Shirts are a super charged day glow orange and made by New Balance.

Good Morning America's Amy Robach to Host 2017 Shape Women's Half Marathon

ABC's GMA Amy Robach and XTreme XTraining to cover the 2017 Shape Women's Half Marathon

April 30th, 2017 - NYC is the race date for the 2017 Shape Women's Half Marathon. Our celebrity host this year is none other than Amy Robach of ABC TV's Good Morning America.  

Amy will be on hand for televised broadcasts and race day coverage. You can get more details on the race and sign up yourself at: ShapeHalf.com   #WOMENRUNTHEWORLD on TWITTER and INSTAGRAM. Follow me at DOCTORM and DOCTORMM respectively.

My tee and medal from my last Shape Women's Half-Marathon

Once again, XTreme XTraining is specially invited, Credentialed Press for this 13.1 mile run through Central Park in NYC. Yes, that's me in the lead photo wearing my PRESS PASS near the start line. That year I ran as an embedded journalist and took some amazing GoPro style shots from inside the race course.

On the race course in Central Park

2016 New York City Run 10 FEED 10 Recap

NYC's 2016 Run 10 FEED 10 at Hudson River Park on September 18th

Hudson River Park, NYC This year's "run down West Side Hwy" for hunger awareness was met with safety concerns due to bombs found at another charity race this weekend in Seaside Heights NJ and one which detonated in one of my favorite NYC neighborhoods, Chelsea. So security was high at Pier 84, Hudson River Park with a heavy police presence which made us all feel safer. In spite of terrorist threats however, the race now in its 5th year, had an amazing turn out.

I am going to let the photos/video tell the story but I want to thank my sponsors and team members again for their excellent training and race day support. Special thanks to Macy's for the custom screened commemorative race day shirts:

Women's Health Magazine for my VIP Invitation as Race Sponsor

Hoka One One - Footwear Sponsor

Rainbow Light Nutritional Systems - Official Corporate Sponsor (Also a proud supporter of Vitamin Angels)

Interview with NYC Run 10 FEED 10 Race Emcee, Amber Browning-Coyle

Race Week Rituals and Training Table Must Haves

Last minute additions and prep during Race Week.

Marathon Season has begun! The week of a major race is always stressful. I try to keep a lot of it at bay by backing off my training, (at least running anyway), a bit to rest and be ready for the demands a 10k or half marathon will place on my body.

Running in the More/Shape Women's Half Marathon in Central Park

Keep in mind that I am running my next half marathon again (The More/Shape Women's Half Marathon), as an embedded journalist so I'm not watching the clock as I did for the Run10FEED10 10k. All the same, it can be a long day so here are some of my race week rituals and training table inclusions:

A clean road shoe is a happy road shoe.

Come Clean - Running Shoe Scrub Off
Whatever shoes I chose to race in deserve a little freshening up the week of the race. I use an old toothbrush and a few foamy puffs of Sno-Seal Shoe & Boot Foaming Cleanser. The dispenser gives you billowy clouds that don't soak your shoes to death. A little scrubbing and then turn them upside down for a quick rinse off. I let them air dry and they are sparkling gorgeous for race day. Works on leather trim and leather shoes too. Visit Atsko.com for this and other shoe care/cleaners.

Hoka One One Running shoes air drying after a scrub.

Keeping Your Cool
I also make sure to eat a sufficient amount of anti-inflammatory foods during race week. This includes salmon, mackerel, sardines, sweet potatoes, beet juice and omega 3 fatty acid supplements. I also include a little grass fed, free range, red meat which boosts iron, B-12 and CLA's levels not to mention high quality protein my muscles will need. Muscle soreness is not something I look forward to so a few extra ounces of salmon can make all the difference in the world.

Fresh salmon marinated in lemon juice.

Going Nuts
Nuts are a powerhouse of protein and good fats your body will need for race day. You don't need a lot but 1/4 cup of nuts or 49 pistachios (which are actually seeds) constitute a serving. I like roasted cashews, pistachios and raw pecans especially. I get a bag and store them in the fridge for extra freshness and crunchiness. Natural nuts keep better at cooler temps so I keep dry roasted seeds like these pistachios from Setton Farms refrigerated.

I go a bit nuts during race week.

Hydrate Powerfully
Race Week for me includes fruit and vegetable smoothies, coconut water and of course pure water all day everyday. As I mentioned before, I have been adding Beet Root Juice to the mix for extra endurance and will most likely use it just before the race itself. Another find has been Nitro Decimus Powder. 0 sugars but has a respectable amino acid profile and creatine blend. Spiked with caffeine though in amounts they don't want to disclose...not good! 

Invo Coconut Water Sencha Green Tea is straight up, natural. Nothing sweet about it. Only thing is it must be consumed within 24 hours of opening. See all the flavors at Invo-Juice.com

Invo Coconut Water and Decimus Blasting Powder

Race Day Goodies to Go
Macrobar - Are you like me and SO over high sugared energy bars and glucose gels that taste like chemicals in your mouth? Join the club! I'm really liking the GoMacro Macrobar, especially their Everlasting Joy bar with real coconut, almond butter and chocolate chips. These are NOT super sweet which I appreciate because stuff like that gives me a stomach ache...something no one wants to run with. Each bar gives you 10 grams of protein for your trouble. Soy free, vegan, gluten free and just plain delicious. 

Pistachio Chewy Bites - These portable powerhouses are loaded with over 50% pistachios and contain cranberries. The two together make for a serious antioxidant double whammy in a very portable size. Grab and go, these are the perfect size for me just before a run as a full sized meal or protein bar would be best eaten after the race. Check them out along with their sacks of pistachios at SettonFarms.com

Pistachio Chewy Bites and GoMacro Macrobar

So just like cramming for an exam, feed your body right especially the week before a major endurance event. You'll be so glad you did!

My race week training table picks.