A commemorative post from last years NY Marathon…Go bold pace runners!!
I have always been a “zen” runner, no watch, just taking the miles as they come. In the NY Marathon I lost my center and I went out too fast and I didn’t even realize it until mile 15. Then I spent the next 11.2 miles suffering. I had to come up with some solid reasons to keep running:
1. that darn e-mail message going to my husband on his blackberry every mile while at my son’s soccer game. I talked to him every time I crossed that pad…”i am hating it honey“…it helped.
2. that woman at mile 20 that said to me “ You got it girl- keep it going“ (remember to go to a race and yell for someone)
3. a double tall soy latte when I finish
4. three weeks off from running and sleeping in late (6:30am).
5. family and friends following online…I am trying here…
6. the wheelchair competitor that passed me on mile 23.
7. the woman runner next to me on miles 24 through 26 who was also hurting…and was still pushing
8. thinking of my “long distance” friends who are so tough
9. believing it will be better next time. I will use a watch and monitor every mile
10. thinking that if I gave up every speech I have ever given to my children about quitting would be null and void.
Finished! 3:23:47
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NY Marathon 2008/ A happy memory:
The joys of cheering, not running, the NY Marathon—
-drinking my morning coffee with impunity
-having breakfast in a cozy NY coffee shop while a cold wind blows over the runners waiting (and waiting) on the Verrazano Bridge
-Paula Radcliffe and Kara Goucher –zipping by- right in front of us
-making those resolutions about how the next time I run a marathon, I will be much faster (LOL)-so easy to decide while not running!
- standing there with such a happy and chic crowd, it was fairly easy not to hate Monica for looking so terrific and speedy while running past us
-after cheering Monica at mile 18, Jean and I indulged in a little shopping at Madura (fabulous French curtains and linens) and Williams Sonoma before strolling (strolling!) to the park to catch her 24th mile
-enjoying Monica’s post run recap—sans the sweet misery of too many gels, aches, and miles—
Wow! 3.23 – well done! After reading through how fast you started, then how you struggled to push through the last miles, I didn’t expect that time at the end. You did good. And I hope you are proud of not quitting and that your children are proud of you too.
Teresa Schultz´s last blog ..Who am I to give long jump or running advice?
love the NY marathon….I give those folks a lot of credit.