start it up

In a way, I can't believe I am doing this again!

To be fair, “again” doesn’t mean a marathon (this is my first), but it does mean training runs, long Saturday mornings pounding pavement and trying to figure out mileage from Google Maps; circuitous routes around pedestrians, tourists, other runners, sidewalk bumps, construction scaffold; finding water fountains that work; and propping feet up for hours after. In the past several years, I’ve tackled my first, second, and third Half Marathon – the first was in Miami, and the next two were in New York. I have a distinct memory of thinking, “I never have to do this again” after my friend Kari and I finished the last 13.1 miles this past March, so I’m not really sure how I got to be here.

Ok, that’s not entirely true either. Running the (or, “a”) marathon has always been something that I’ve wanted to do. I know tons of friends have run it; its always inspiring to see it happen – and, nerd alert - I get goosebumps sometimes thinking about it.

This year, also, should be different from others: I’m turning 30, I just got engaged, and I will be starting a new phase of my career … and a friend said, “this is your year.” She didn’t at all mean it like, “THIS IS YOUR YEAR GIRL, GO RUN THE MARATHON!”, but it got me thinking. This SHOULD be my year. I'm going to make it my year.

So here we go. I’ve signed up to run the NYC Marathon with Team for Kids, the main not-for-profit that works with NYCRR. Here we embark on an 18 week journey to the finish line!

WEEK 1, RUN 1 – 3 miles
It was July 4th and B and I were on the Cape; we woke up with huge Dunkin Donuts iced coffees (who wouldn’t?), and laced up and were out on the path as soon as our slurps were over. Full belly of coffee sloshing, we ran around the local golf course a couple times; B recently got back into running so he went with me for 2 miles. A group of men were already pounding beers in the parking area of the golf course. You have to love that. I keep going for another loop around the cemetery and course, and then home. Face burning red, so hot so hot! And… it was only 9.30 am.

WEEK 1, RUN 2 – 5 miles
After a day off (spent driving back to New York in immense Cape/Connecticut traffic), I overindulged on a medley of popcorn and couscous, attempting to reassure myself all the while that this would only be to FUEL my run on Wednesday morning. This morning, of course, when the alarm went off at 7am, I wondered briefly whether there would be enough people running outside to make the East River Park less sketchy at this hour. Of course, when I got outside and down there, I realized that was silly of me- the place was bumping with early morning runners. I slogged off and started looping up north a few blocks, and then down by the waterside, eventually running under the FDR, passing the Williamsburg, Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges. It was HOT – only about 78 degrees but humid, and every mouthful of air felt heavy with humidity. To keep myself entertained, I sang Katy Perry songs in my head. The run back was somehow less painful, and I imagined stopping for a cool drink of water but knew I wouldn’t start up again if I paused, so slogged it back home. Face: beet red. I think I kept sweating for a good 20 minutes once inside!

Yes, I thought: wow, I signed up for this? Like, to do this 4x over? Sheesh. And its only the second day!