Spectating at the NYC Marathon

03. November 2014 · 3 comments · Categories: inspiration, recreational fun, running, Uncategorized · Tags: , , ,

Hi folks,

Happy Monday! It’s chilly here in New York today but I’m so happy that we finally have daylight at 6:15am again after turning our clocks back in the wee hours yesterday. I love daylight savings for that reason, although I’m not looking forward to seeing darkness at 5 tonight when I leave work. Time to take the flashlight now when walking the dog. Speaking of, yesterday I got up super early (another perk of daylight savings!) and took Duncan to the park. He had been trapped in the house all day Saturday since the rain just never let up. The leaves were peaking and just so gorgeous yesterday.

photo 1

Then I drove to my boyfriend’s house where I left Duncan to hang with him for the day. Once the doodle drop-off was done I hopped on an 11:30am train to Penn Station and then switched over to the subway to get me up to the north east tip of Central Park, 110th St. and 5th Ave. (gee, sound familiar to my commute to the Dash to the Finish Line 5k on Saturday?) I arrived just a few minutes past 1pm. The weather temps were perfect for running but the winds were way out of control 🙁 I read today that there were wind gusts of 60mph on the Verrazano and 45mph at many other locations along the route. That’s tough for a runner. I’m proud to say that it didn’t deter any of my friends. They all finished!

 

Happy spectator Sally

Happy spectator Sally

Shortly after squeezing in and settling into my official spectator spot my friends started passing through. Some noticed me, others did not. First we had Robin…

Robin was looking for me as I took the picture.

Robin was looking for me as I took the picture.

She finally heard me screaming her name and waved! Next up was JD, who was running his first marathon. He was so in his zone he didn’t see me either…

In his zone! JD's first marathon!

In his zone! JD’s first marathon!

Then I was lucky enough to recognize this guy…

 

This is David

38 year streak! This is 71 year old David Obelkevich

Dave Obelkevich who is 71 years old, has run every NYC Marathon since 1976! I only recognized him in that split second because yesterday morning while having breakfast they had some pre-marathon footage on the news and he was interviewed! Crazy!

Next up was Carey.

Every Mother Counts...especially this girl. She's run so many marathons getting really close to completing all 50 states.

Every Mother Counts…especially this girl. She’s run so many marathons getting really close to completing all 50 states.

I even saw Waldo!

where's waldo

I found Waldo!

I missed seeing Cindy somehow but I didn’t miss Lisa. So here’s an AMAZING statistic. In the 43 years that the NYC Marathon has been in existence and with the 1,000,000th runner finishing this year, only 354 women have run the NYC marathon 10 or more times and my friend Lisa, the Lisa that inspired me to start running, is one of those impressive people. Yesterday was her12th NYC Marathon and 51st overall marathon. Can you say UNBELIEVABLE?!!!

Go Lisa Go!

Go Lisa Go!

Next up was Jorge with his infamous smile!

It's so easy!

It’s so easy!

And last but not least, another loyal NYC marathoner. My friend Pete (1 of 1,947 finishers) has run every year for the last 14 years straight! And get this? His training consists of running basically 3 miles a day every day and then he does a half marathon a month before. Easy peasy!

Go Pete Go!

Go Pete Go!

He even used his camera to take a selfie with me.

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photo courtesy of Pete!

I’m so happy that I chose the spot that I did to spectate. It was easy to get to and so full of energy. There was a band playing music and I was in awe of how many runners still looked so strong and effortless at mile 22.5! Here’s a quick 10 second video.

I had such a great time watching from the sidelines. It pumped me up. I’m only one race away from securing my spot next year. I thought I was done running NYC after running it twice but somehow it’s just contagious. If you ever get the opportunity to run it or watch it DO IT! Trust me, you won’t ever regret it =)

Hope your week starts off well.

Have you ever run the NYC Marathon?

Have you ever spectated at a big race?

 

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Rest in Peace Meggan Janota

30. October 2014 · Write a comment · Categories: inspiration, running · Tags: , , , , , ,

I’m deeply saddened to share some heartbreaking news.

Last year I was part of Dicks Sporting Goods Every Runner Has a Reason Campaign. I got to meet so many inspirational runners. One of those runners, Meggan Janota, passed away this morning. She had been battling cancer for quite a few years.

I’m just so sad. Such a beautiful, young woman with her whole life ahead of her. (Meggan is # 3972 in the photo below).

Every Runner Has a Reason photo shoot (a faux marathon)

Every Runner Has a Reason photo shoot (a faux marathon)

I remember feeling terrible that I had to literally give her the sweaty white shirt off my back because they needed her to wear it for a different shot. I remember not even knowing she was sick or in the middle of treatment at first. But most of all I remember sitting around in between takes just sharing laughs with a bunch of runners who understood me and understood how amazing running is.

You’ve probably seen my video but here’s Meggan’s video. Please watch. Please take a minute to say a little prayer for her family as they start their lives without her. And please take a minute to be grateful for this day that wasn’t guaranteed. As cliche as it sounds each day truly is a gift.

I’m probably going to head out in a few for a run. Just a short one. A few miles for Meggan. It just seems like the perfect way to remember her today.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Yesterday I decided to run a 5k distance in my neighborhood and “push it”!

photo 1-1

Not necessarily “all out” but I focused on getting out of my comfort zone. I am running my first official timed 5k on Saturday and I have no idea how to pace myself! I’m a fish out of water with short runs. I ended up keeping a 9:31/mile pace. I know I’m probably capable of keeping a 9:15 pace. So I’m just going to leave my goal at breaking 30 minutes. Let’s see what happens.

I am off from work today so I took the doodle for a nice walk in the crunchy, colorful Autumn leaves.

Red Autumn leaves

Red Autumn leaves

And then stopped off at the vet clinic to get a 6 month supply of his heartworm and flea and tick preventative meds. Of course he started shaking when we pulled into the parking lot. Poor doodle. He must have thought he was going in.

photo 2-1

 

Tonight I’m meeting my “wolf pack” for dinner for a little birthday celebration. And in the next few days I have some exciting news to share! I’ll keep you in suspense for now.

Now go have a great day and make it count! 

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Remembering My First 26point2: The 2011 NYC Marathon

24. October 2014 · Write a comment · Categories: running, Uncategorized · Tags: , ,

Hi guys,

First I just wanted to mention that I set up a link in the bar up top (below my header image) to my race recaps so you can get to them easily.

 Today I did my volunteer shift at the New York Road Runner’s headquarters.

#runforlife

#runforlife

I gave out race bibs to runners who are running the Poland Spring Marathon Kickoff 5 miler this weekend. All the volunteers have one purpose which is to complete their 9+1 and secure entry into next year’s NYC Marathon. The 9+1 is a way for New York Road Runner members like myself to gain access into the marathon without qualifying by time or getting in through the lottery or charity. Basically you have to run 9 of their scored races in a given year and volunteer 1 time that same year and that will give you guaranteed entry into the marathon for the following year.

With the marathon only 10 days away I got really nostalgic today thinking back to my first ever 26.2—the 2011 NYC marathon on 11-06-11— which I used the 9+1 in 2010 to secure my spot.

photo 5

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at the start village with Lisa

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I won’t ever forget the 16 weeks of training culminating in tears of joy when I crossed the finish line late that afternoon. I was slower than I had hoped to be (5:28) but I had accomplished something I never really thought I was capable of. I always said to my full marathon friends “I’ll just stick with half marathons.”  But then something clicked and as my friends encouraged me I found that I was starting to get excited by the idea.

I remember my first long run over 13.1 miles. A distance PR! I ran 14 miles while struggling with remnants of an ankle sprain. (Tip: don’t run a mud run while training for your first marathon!)

And then I reached 16 and then 18 and finally, my 20 miler. All that was left was for me to keep it together and complete 26.2 miles through the boroughs of MY city!

My brother and niece and nephew came to see me on the course at mile 3, mile 8 and then at mile 23!

mile 3! OMG I can't believe you found me!

mile 3! OMG I can’t believe you found me!

This is a mile before i fell apart and this is only mile 8

This is a mile 8 only one mile before i started to fall apart.

388882_2649149069661_80763520_n

I started off conservatively just as I had practiced in my mind for months. And things were going well until somewhere between mile 9 and 10. First it was stomach cramps, then my back started to spasm. Perhaps it was nerves. I’ll never know. But boy did it mess me up mentally! I was walking by the halfway point over the Pulaski Bridge.

walking at the 1/2 way pt

I’m behind the dude in the red timex shirt walking at the 1/2 way point

I basically spent the second half of the race running a bit, then walking a bit and eventually just shuffling. This video that my nephew recorded of me at mile 23 is priceless! You can see how much I was hurting.

I surely wasn’t going “fast like a bullet train” as my nephew asked me to do. LOL.

But i did it! I crossed the finish line that day and became a marathoner.

officially a marathoner

officially a marathoner

I won’t ever get to run my first full marathon again. And that is why I will always remember that day and what an impact it’s left on me. I got to run NYC again last year and shaved 31 minutes of my time. I’m really excited to cheer on my friends next weekend and know that I’ll be back again next year for my 3rd NYC Marathon and (if all goes well) my 7th full marathon and hopefully I can finish a few minutes faster. But regardless, there’s something so special about NYC. I guess it’s plain and simple. I’m a “native new yawker”.

Do you remember your first marathon (or big race?) What race and when? Did you cry when you crossed the finish line?

 

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a haircut a short run and a knee update and some halloween candy carnage

16. October 2014 · 1 comment · Categories: labradoodle · Tags: , , ,

Hi there

9 more days until my birthday! Woot Woot! That’s single digits. You know, kinda like how excited you are to reach mile 16.3 in a marathon and know that technically you have single digit miles left to run (9.9 to be exact).

OK that was like math, math makes my brain hurt so let’s move on, shall we?

Speaking of not counting. Here’s some of the evidence of the 15 pieces of (i’m not counting) Halloween candy I consumed at work yesterday.

 

candy carnage

candy carnage

 

This morning it was pouring rain so I took the doodle to the pet store. We only got the necessities, poop bags, food and cookies.

petco

petco

Duncan always smiles when we go to the pet store

photo 1

Then the rain stopped and I opted to go for a short run. The first run since the Staten Island Half on Sunday.

channeling my inner bubblegum

channeling my inner bubblegum

I didn’t wear the knee brace and my knee felt pretty good but sure as sh-t as soon as i stopped for a light and then went to start back up again I got a sharp pain. It didn’t last and afterward it was fine. Tomorrow I’m going for a bike ride. No sense aggravating it.

I did something monumental today. I got a haircut.

photo 4I hadn’t had one in 18 months! Yes kids, i’m crazy. Luckily the curls just get tighter and nobody really has a clue that I procrastinate with the haircuts. Anyway, since the rain stopped I chanced a blowout because I just love a good blowout and I can’t for the life of me blow my own hair straight.

I’m hoping this will last a couple of days.

Well, I’m off to run some errands. Catch ya later.

Haircuts. Tell me. Do you love them or hate them? Do you have good hair? I love my curls but it’s not so easy to manage. 

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