This past weekend I ran in the NYC Marathon and what an experience!! My finish time was 4:08:59, which shattered my Philadelphia time of 4:30:16. Needless to say, I was tickled pink!
For nearly five months I trained for the marathon, running during the week and on Sundays (the coveted "long" run). It was a lot of work and dedication, but it was all well worth it.
In addition to running my fastest marathon, I raised more money for Fred's Team (a charity that supports Memorial Sloan-Kettering in memory of Fred Lebow, the NYC Marathon founder) than I ever thought possible. My goal was $3,500 and the last time I checked I was well over $4,100, with more checks coming in.
The NYC Marathon was a bucket list item for me. It was an experience I won't soon forget. In addition to feeling amazing throughout the entire race, I broke all kinds of PRs (personal records). I ran my fastest 5 miles, 10K and 18 miles, which is hard to believe since the NYC course is so hilly. In my opinion, it's the energy of the crowds that enables you keep going. There were areas of the race where the spectators were cheering so loudly, you couldn't even hear! Nearly all of the runners had their names on their shirts. And there's no better feeling in the world than hearing complete strangers cheer you on.
If you think you can't do a marathon, you can. And if you are considering running one, you'll be hard-pressed to find a race more incredible, scenic and awe-inspiring than NYC. I saw blind runners, runners with prosthetics and even one gentleman with a sign that said "heart transplant recipient." The race puts a lot in perspective and makes you ever so grateful that you can run 26.2 miles.
Have you run the NYC Marathon? I'd love to hear your experience!
For moms who care about staying fit as much as they care about their little ones
