So fill up your lungs and just run, but always be chasing the sun.

Mohawk-Hudson Half-Marathon & Stockadeathon

My training has been pretty unstructured since the triathlon in July, but to be honest, it took me a good two months or so to feel normal on a run again. I honestly thought I’d never get back to wanting to run again, let alone feeling good on a run, but I suppose I did put my body through quite a bit over those six months!

I have some unfinished business with running and don’t think I ever really want to make the transition to become a full-fledged triathlete (I’d more like to be a runner who dabbles in really long triathlons 🙂 ). Not to mention triathlon training can be quite time consuming to balance the three disciplines, and with school, ain’t nobody got time for that! Before prices went up for the race in August and as an early birthday present/post-exam present to myself, I signed up for the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach the Sunday before the end of spring break, so that is my next big race on the horizon, and I am gunning for a huge PR.

For some motivation to get myself back into running shape, last month, I ran the Mohawk-Hudson Half-Marathon on a bit of a whim. I have only heard great things abut both the half and the full (read: fast and flat), and I thought it would be pretty cool to run a race that takes place where I actually train at least once a week. Despite no specific training for the race and hoping to average 8 minute pace, I surprised myself with a 43 second PR with a time of 1:41:27 (7:45 pace). The beginning of race excitement carried me to a 7:30 minute clip, which felt oddly pedestrian (I don’t think I had run faster than 8:15 pace on a training run…maaaaaybe 8:00 pace) so I kept with it…until I heard a runner tell another that she was trying to run sub 1:40! I was vaguely aware that my PR was somewhere in the 1:42 range meaning that I needed to slow. the. heck. down. After calming down and repeating to myself that I needed to relax if I was even going to survive these 13.1 miles, I chatted and ran 4ish miles with a super nice older woman who was running the NYC marathon in a few weeks. From there, I tried to stay in the 7:45 range and realized maybe a sub 1:40 might actually be a possibility if I kept at it. I felt great until the last two miles when things started to fall apart, but not enough to keep me from a PR and a time I impressed myself with. Least favorite part of the race? When my left shoelace came untied at mile 2 causing what felt like every runner to inform me that my shoe was untied for the remaining 11.1 miles. 

Running confidence somewhat restored, I signed up for the Stockadeathon three weeks after the half. The Stockadeathon is a race I’ve wanted to do for a while now. Not gonna lie, the novel race distance, a 15K, appealed to me. You see, a new race distance = an automatic PR. I am planning on using the Hanson’s Marathon Method to guide my marathon training that will officially begin next Sunday, so for the past month, I’ve just run and worked out however I felt that day, whether that meant an 8 mile run with strides at the end, step class, swimming, or spinning with friends. I set a goal of 7:30 pace based off of my half-marathon and the pretty, round, and easy to remember 1:10 finish time.

Meeting Frank Shorter, the 1972 Olympic gold and 1976 silver medalist at packet pick-up the day before the race! #lol

The race did not disappoint. Schenectady has always kind of sketched me out, but the race took us through the best of the city and was lined with spectators throughout almost the entire race. The rolling hills broke up the course and kept things interesting, and the last half mile that was practically all downhill was a pleasant surprise when I really started to hurt. I went out with the crowd pretty quick at sub 7 minute pace but tried to not get caught in the excitement and to settle into my goal pace. I haven’t been running with a watch lately (the darn thing takes so long to sync! And is always off by a smidge anyway), so pacing was a not-so-fun game: I freaked out any time I would look down and see that I was slower than 7:30 pace, speed up, and then realize I was running way faster than I should have been. Another fun game? Trying to get an older guy from drafting off of me at some windy points. Still, I kept averaging between 7:15 to 7:30 pace and enjoyed the perfect 50 degree weather. At the 7 mile mark, I knew sub 1:10 was within reach as long as I kept pushing and mentally told myself I only had two miles to go. Which was a lie. Because I had 2.3 miles to go. Which kind of broke my spirit for a moment and made me question whether this was going to be a thing today or not. My body began to feel heavy and my mind cloudy at this point, and I felt myself losing my pace. But here’s the great thing one of the greatest things about running-even when you think you can’t do it, your mind and your body will continually prove you wrong and show you otherwise. I remember thinking to myself, What’s the worst that could happen if I just go for it? So I went for it, refused to look at my watch, and gave it all I had for the last half mile. And seeing the timer read 1:08 as I was coming down the homestretch was the greatest thing. I finished with a 1:09:04 (7:25 pace) and smiled at the volunteer as she handed me a sub 70 minute bumper sticker…that I will surely not put on my car and have no idea what to do with, but it was still much appreciated.

Met Kristen, another Bird, at the finish line!

My splits were crazy consistent, and I even negative splitted (how that happened is beyond me): 23:20, 23:26, 22:23 for each 5K. I love to think about how I ran my first 5K in high school in 25:04. My freshman self would be so surprised to find that I can do three 5Ks in a row even faster than I could do ONE back in the day! Even though it was my first one, the 15K may actually be my favorite distance to race now-not breakneck speed (I think I’ve lost any semblance of speed I ever had), but not long enough to hurt too badly due to lack of training like I usually do in the half-marathon. 😛 But really, there’s some great mental aspect to be able to break up the race into three 5Ks.

I’m taking the confidence I’ve gained from these two fun fall races into my marathon training this winter, and I’m excited to see where it takes me when I really buckle down and focus on running!

You make what doesn’t matter fade to gray. Days are good, and that’s the way it should be.

Sometimes I just get too busy living life to remember to blog. Which maybe isn’t a bad thing. Except then I feel (selfishly) guilty because if I don’t write about what’s going on in my life I just won’t remember all of the important, awesome things and feelings in the future. So here’s the first in a series of posts that is a sad attempt at recapping the last month or so of my life…mostly for my own benefit (and with retroactive dating of blog posts for organizational purposes). 🙂

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The affordable housing cause will always be one near and dear to my heart. I mean, I did devote an entire summer and eight months prior to that preparing to and actually biking across the country to it. And yes, as easily as that rolls off the tongue, I’ve learned to selectively either a) censor that part of my life, or b) say it so quickly and nonchalantly that as I continue on with the relevant story requiring the “biking across the country” backstory the person I’m talking to might barely hear it and juuuuust miss it.

Save for making donations on behalf of riders to Bike & Build, buying some furniture from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in my hometown of Columbia, Maryland (which I highly recommend checking out in your city if you’re in the market for some cheap, used furniture!), and a solitary day with Habitat for Humanity of the Capital District helping Schoharie County homeowners in the aftermath of the devastating floods in 2012, I haven’t been too active in the AH network. I’ve always struggled (and have a strong feeling will continue to struggle) with trying to figure out where and how to direct my attention, time, and money when there are so many people and causes that are in need of help, but when a former Bike & Build SC2SC13 alum, Alicia, reached out to me about the revival of Habitat of the Capital District’s Tour de Habitat last spring, I knew I wanted to participate.

Alicia, the Community Outreach Manager at Habitat of the CD, and I bumped into each other on my birthday last year at the Lion’s Park section of the Mohawk-Hudson Bike Path. I was with three friends on a birthday bike ride (because really, what is a birthday without some bikes?!) and I could spot that B&B jersey from a mile away. We did the awkward yet standard “OMGYOUDIDBIKEANDBUILDWANNARIDEBIKES” exchange but never actually rode together.

Me and Alicia after the 50 mile ride!

The Tour de Habitat used to be an annual event, but it took a hiatus after 2011. Through Alicia’s hard work, the event came back with a vengeance this year offering rides ranging from 10 to 100 miles and raising over $10,100 for Habitat of the CD! I had an awesome time on the 50 mile ride throughout the Capital District (pretty cool that we were riding right in the areas that our fundraising would directly impact) and was thoroughly impressed with how well the course was marked the entire way. (I lost my cue sheet at mile 10, so, yeah…). I am trying to be better about doing things I want to do even if I can’t find a friend who will join me, and I even made a new biker friend, Sarah, and had a great time chatting with her and her family and friends at the after party at Druther’s post-ride.

The day was perfect, and I look forward to participating in future Tour de Habitats! With the success of this inaugural-ish event, I know it will only get bigger and bigger in years to come.

Sarah and me at the post-ride after party at Druther’s!

I was stuck inside someone else’s life and always second best.

13. TulipFest: Tulip Luncheon

A month late, but here is my one minute reflection blurb given at the Tulip Luncheon during TulipFest. Honestly, a minute is not long enough to give a thorough account of my thoughts and feelings about this year, but I hope these are the highlights I will be remember and be able to fondly look back on in the future (here is the slideshow I made for the Luncheon that was never shared in its entirety, if interested):

Service to my community, most especially to the least among us, has always been central to who I am, so it may not be surprising that the service aspect of the program is what initially excited me about becoming a Tulip. While the opportunity to serve Albany students, seniors, and everyone in between has been enlightening, in a selfish way, I have found the most rewarding part of my year as a Tulip to be the opportunity to immerse myself in the incredible breadth and diversity of events, cultures, and compassionate, vibrant people comprising the tight knit community of the City of Albany.

I moved from Maryland to the Albany area to attend Siena College and have continued my education as a student at Albany Medical College. A lot of my friends at school are from larger cities across the country and were, at first, doubtful of what Albany offers outside of the classroom. It has been my absolute delight to venture from event to event this year, soaking up the best of the best that Albany has to offer and then to share, even brag, about those experiences with my surprised classmates and friends, some who are even Albany natives themselves. If this year has taught me anything, it is that Albany’s tightly bound, warmhearted, and active community is what makes it unique. It is what makes me proud to call the capital of New York state my new home.

As I go forth, I will carry the lessons I’ve learned as a Tulip with me as I strive to make this world a better place, hopefully in the field of primary care after completing my medical training. I am also excited to share that I am training for my first iron distance or 140.6 mile triathlon while raising $8,300 for the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of my grandfather who passed away last Thursday and who would have turned 83 this month and the other resilient patients I have worked with this semester suffering with various forms of dementia. In the continued Tulip spirit of service to others, I intend on donating my entire $1,500 scholarship towards my fundraising efforts for the Alzheimer’s Association to help find a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease and provide support to those patients and their caregivers who suffer with or because of this debilitating illness that affects so many.

On this Mother’s Day weekend, I’d like to give a very special acknowledgement to my own fantastic mom and grandmothers back in Maryland, and those in my life who have acted as my Albany mentors and moms, especially Kate Kaufman Burns, Alison Wade, Dr. Kate Wagner, and Dr. Mina Sun. I would also like to thank David Karasz, Christopher Dollard, my advisor, Dr. Jonathan Rosen, and my brother and role model, Paul Yi, for being here to support me today, as well as Albany Medical Center and Albany Medical College for their continued support and dedication to providing and training physicians who provide compassionate, preeminent care to the Capital District.

I wish you all a very happy Mother’s Day and Tulip Festival. Thank you.

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Congratulations and good luck to this year’s Tulip Queen and Court, Ali, Morgan, Jackie, Eva, and Sarah!

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TulipFest: Tulip Luncheon

When and Where: Friday of TulipFest following the Street Scrubbing; this year’s event was held at 60 State Street

Highlights: A look back on the outgoing Tulip Court’s year and a formal introduction to the incoming Tulip Court, benefits the Tulip Fund, which benefits future Courts’ literacy programs

Loses points for: Sold out quickly this year

Cost: $50/person

Good for: Those with connections to the Tulip program

Would I go again?: A lot of former Tulips attend this annual event every year.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Note: This is my “I Don’t Have Enough Time to Write Another Blog Entry Because My Exam is Coming Up” entry.

The Tulips have their own blog that the five of us rotate (what is supposed to be) every two weeks chronicling our experiences at different events and with planning our literacy program. My second blog entry of the year was posted yesterday (I don’t even know precisely what it means, but for some reason I want to describe it as “campy” or cheesy (most of the blog entries from the past four years closed with “Tulip Love, (insert Tulip’s name here)), and I’ve copied and pasted it below for your reading pleasure in case you’re wondering what we’re up to on the literacy program front:

Posted by: Meghan Yi, 2014 Tulip Court

Sunday December 14, 2014

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Despite the forecast of tons of sleet and snow this week, winter has not slowed down the Tulips! The past few weeks have been busy ones as we’ve been working “super” hard putting the finishing touches on our Imagination Ink: Calling All Super Writers literacy program, volunteering at holiday themed events in the city, and winding down our semesters at our respective schools.

Imagination Ink: Calling All Super Writers has been a major work in progress since we were first selected as finalists way back in May. All five of us brought novel ideas for the literacy program (pun intended) to the table: Caitlin suggested using a graphic novel as a teaching tool, Jillian created a worksheet on how to dissect and discuss books with students in a highly educational way, Tara shared her background in lesson planning to give us a concrete game plan to lead us in the classrooms, Kassie’s optimism and creativity reminded us to aim big, but to also have fun with the process, and I pushed for the overarching theme of teaching students the importance of recognizing issues in their community, reaching out to and learning from local role models and leaders, and actually doing something about it to make their home in Albany a better place (the students are, after all, our next generation of leaders!). After pulling bits and pieces of our individual proposals together we are nearly ready to debut our collective literacy baby, a cohesive and engaging program we really feel is going to rally students to be excited about improving their literacy. We look forward to sharing Imagination Ink in several schools in the coming months!

Besides the literacy program, we’ve been busy meeting with and working with you, our favorite Albany community members, at events throughout the city. Last Wednesday, we helped flip the light switch, listened and danced to the awesome a capella music provided by the Albany High School music department, and ate the always amazing donuts from Cider Belly at the City of Albany Tree Lighting with Mayor Sheehan.

On Saturday, Tara and I set up food for post-race festivities, handed out shirts at registration, and directed 1700 eager (and brave!) runners to the starting line at the 18^th annual Albany Last Run, a 5K through the Capital Holiday Lights in Washington Park. (Registration closed out before I could sign up, but mark my words, I will be running it next year…literally with bells on!)

Finally, on Sunday, we worked on Santa Claus bookmarks, clothespin angel tree ornaments, and paper star cutouts with children and their families visiting the craft station at the Empire State Plaza Tree Lighting hosted by the New York State Office of General Services and SEFCU. Tara, Kassie, and I even got to meet and snag a picture with Santa!

As if that wasn’t enough to keep us busy, our fall semesters just finished and/or are wrapping up (ha, are you sick of these puns yet?!). While Jillian finished her semester a couple of weeks ago at Union and is participating in a prestigious dance program in Bali for a few weeks on an incredible scholarship, Caitlin, Kassie, and Tara are in the midst of their finals at Siena and St. Rose. As for me, I have one more exam and a million and one things to do here at Albany Med before I return home to Maryland to hibernate, relax, and celebrate the beauty that is Christmas with my family and friends.  It has been one crazy semester, but when I stop to take a deep breath, reflect on it all, and count my blessings, I thank God for all of the awesome opportunities and wonderful people He has placed in my life!

Looking forward to everything 2014 will bring for you and me, and wishing you the happiest of holiday seasons,

Meghan

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In addition, we’ve been asked to submit regular blog entries for the Special Events Office blog. For our first entry, we each took a part of the selection process to explain from our own point of view. It can be read here.

Let me see if you can run it, run it.

2. The Last Run (early December)

The Last Run is was a 5k race (last I heard, it’s actually closer to 3 miles now) run by the City of Albany Office of Special Events brings together 1700 runners in the Capital District for a night time race from City Hall, through the Capital Holiday Lights display in Washington Park, and back. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for several years since I moved to Albany Albany (as opposed to Loudonville, right outside of Albany), but I never seem to sign up quickly enough. (I was informed by the Director of Special Events next time I could just give her a call to get into the race…#tuilipperks?)

Like, a tenth of the snacks we helped arrange. The perfect fan formation was insisted upon because of the fact that apparently people are very particular about how their snacks are arranged after they have run. Or something.

Yesterday at the event, I helped with packet pick-up, which was an absolute tease (and also an incredibly long 4 hours to be standing on my feet). I’ve been a runner for over ten years, which is incredible to think about, but despite the normal ebbs and flows, highs and lows, and joys and heartbreaks that I’ve found to define running for over a decade, I’ve trained and competed pretty consistently up until maybe two or three years ago when this whole medical school deal began.

Me, Tara, and Kelly. Note the extreme jealousy on my face knowing that they are about to run and I get to direct people to bathrooms. Running >>>>> almost everything else >>>>> directing people to the bathroom. 

Running is absolutely and will always be my first love, but since concluding my collegiate running career I’ve been in a pretty stable state of loving the freedom of skipping running to go to an impromptu hot yoga class with a friend, biking outside on particularly beautiful day, and throwing my heart and soul (and almost my back out) into kickboxing when all I want to do is punch someone in the face while simultaneously being jealous of people’s new PRs, qualifications for prestigious running races, and loaded training logs I once knew to be my own norm.

So you might be able to imagine my sentiments while handing out shirts for four hours to eager runners, dressed in red and green, with bells and flashing holiday lights, excitement and nervousness in the air: I was insanely jealous. Perhaps next year I’ll be able to add to this post after having completed the event, but it is, for sure, on my Albany Bucket List that lives in my head and grows exponentially as residency creeps and creeps and creeps (i.e. slowly) towards me, a residency that may or may not keep me in the Albany area.

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The Last Run

When and Where: Early December; Downtown, beginning at City Hall (24 Eagle St.)

Highlights: Running, duh; unique night race that goes through the Capital Holiday Lights in Washington Park; roads closed off and well marshaled (safety); huge event that draws tens of thousands of people out from hibernation each December

Cost: $25 to 35, depending on when you sign up

Good for: Families, friends, date (don’t let her win; she doesn’t want you to let her win)

Would I go again?: Yes…but actually compete.

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree brings to us such joy and glee.

1. Albany City Hall Tree Lighting (early December)

Hands down, my favorite part of being a Tulip this year has been the exposure to all of the events in the City of Albany that I simply didn’t even know existed.

This includes the City Hall Tree Lighting Ceremony, which took place in front of City Hall this past Wednesday, December 3rd. Our role didn’t give me much to write home about (we helped flip the big switch to turn on the lights at City Hall with two sweet kids and their mom; I joked that there was someone behind the scenes, ready to plug in the cord for the lights as soon as we used our combined six person strength to pull that sucker down), but the event itself was lovely. Facilitated by Mayor Sheehan and with free donuts, cider, and coffee from the ever awesome Cider Bellies Doughnuts on South Pearl (which will undoubtedly get its own entry in the near future) and beautiful carols by a women’s chorus from Albany High, it made me wish more people knew about and had attended the event (I made sure to relay the news that there was free food to my poor, starving, sleep-deprived classmates). After, the other Tulips and I went in to City Hall to check out the fun decorations they had put up since our last monthly meeting at the end of November.

(Last photo courtesy of the Albany Events Facebook page)

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Albany City Hall Tree Lighting 

When and Where: Early December; City Hall (24 Eagle St. Albany)

Highlights: Adorable small children in all of their winter layers abound; free Cider Bellies; Christmas-y spirit with awesome, live music; policemen on horses were a great touch

Cost: Free

Good for: Families, friends, date

Would I go again?: Yes, but with gloves next time!

Do what you do, just keep on laughing.

Previously posted on the Albany Tulip blog on July 10, 2014. 

Posted by: Meghan Yi, 2014 Tulip Court

Thursday July 10, 2014

Summer is in full swing, Albany!

As I type this blog entry, I can’t believe that we are already two months into our reign as the 2014 Albany Tulip Court! From the hectic weeks leading up to Coronation Day in May to the whirlwind of a Tulip Festival weekend to finishing up our rigorous academic years to fun mingling with the Albany community at different events to planning our literacy programs for the year to enhance the Mayor’s Literacy Campaign, the City of Albany has certainly kept us busy this summer, and I know that this is just the beginning! (Phew! Even typing all of that has me out of breath!)

My name is Meghan Yi, and I am a second year medical student at Albany Medical College. I was born and grew up in Ellicott City, Maryland between DC and Baltimore, but I am no stranger to the Albany area; I graduated from the beautiful Siena College (Go Saints!) with a degree in Biology after four amazing years at the school. Siena’s Franciscan Catholic tradition, which emphasizes service and the necessity for treating each and every person with the God-given dignity that he or she deserves, are lessons that I have taken to heart and try my best to emulate in my daily life. Siena pushed me to always give back to the community that has given me so much, whether that was through building homes with Habitat for Humanity over spring breaks, teaching math and English for a summer in Namibia, or biking across the country to support the affordable housing cause; I truly believe that this “impulse to serve” mentality is what guided me to become a Tulip.

To me, the Tulip legacy is one of many things, but primarily service, and to spend a year working with and for the City of Albany is the opportunity of a lifetime. As Tulips, we have been given the tremendous responsibility to try to make a difference in the Albany community, and it is not a task the five of us take lightly. I am confident that our unique literacy programs we are working hard to develop will not only engage Albany youth but will also inspire these young scholars to value reading, writing, and the education system in general  as a pathway to accomplishing their goals. I am thankful to my own parents, older brother, and teachers I had growing up who constantly encouraged me to ask questions, try new things, work hard, and never give up, building the foundation upon which I stand today. These are the same messages I hope to spread to Albany students throughout the next year as a Tulip.

As a non-Albany native, I also look forward to the opportunities to attend so many events this year and truly experience the very best Albany has to offer. I already love Albany for its proximity to the Catskills and Adirondacks, beautiful places to run and bike, great variety of restaurants, and most importantly, the exceptionally friendly people, but I’ve been amazed by the rich culture hiding in my own backyard at churches, schools, concert halls, and other establishments even these past two months have exposed me to. Attending different festivals, concerts, events at local schools, and other celebrations I had no idea even existed has been enlightening and eye-opening, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year has in store for us.

One of my favorite recent events we’ve been able to participate in was the 4th of July Celebration at the Plaza during which we braved the rain and wind to work on some patriotic, super glittery arts and crafts projects with Albany natives and visitors alike. Between the legitimate pieces of artwork our new friends created, the live music, all of the foods (gyros, crepes, and Cuban food all in one day-a girl’s dream!), and the honestly incredible fireworks show that had me, I kid you not, “ooh-ing and ahh-ing” the entire night, the 4th festivities have definitely been a highlight of my summer.

As my second year classes begin on July 21st, it seems like my official summer is coming to an end, but for the city of Albany, summer excitement is still going strong! We’ve still got the GE Kids Day at the Plaza, Senior Sundays, several more Alive @ 5 concerts, and more up ahead in the coming weeks, and I hope to see and meet you all out there while we take advantage of the warm weather!

Stay cool, take care, and God bless,

Meghan