Getting Into Running
My running career has been fickle. I was very committed to running two miles almost daily in college. That’s when I was in my best shape, but I fell out of running after college. I was set to get back into it by using the Couch to 5K app in early 2013. A few of my friends were running half or full marathons. Even though I thought they were crazy, but mostly I was impressed. It was great for them to do it, but I didn’t think there was a way that I could do this myself; 13.1 miles is a lot!
The Motivation
In early 2013, I moved to NYC and was exposed to a lot of people running. Many of the girls I worked with did half marathons and cared about their health. Going to Central Park (my favorite place) you can’t help but notice all of the people running. It was a completely different world and very motivating. Since I was trying to get back into running, I started to do a 3 mile loop from my house to the park then around the reservoir before returning home. When you find a route like that, it is comforting to do the same thing every time you go out there.
Then, I got the courage to sign up for an interesting looking 5K – Runyon 5K at Yankee’s Stadium in August 2013. This would be my first 5K and my first race; I was so nervous about it. The night before I went out with friends and didn’t even have a glass of wine! I woke early the next morning and took the subway solo to the Bronx. Before we started, a volunteer or event coordinator gave us the highlights of what to expect – we would be going around the field twice (so cool!), get video taped on the scoreboard, then would make our way up and down multiple flights of stairs and ramps. This would not be a race to PR.
The Race
Five and a half years later, I am very proud to say that I have finished 6 half marathons, a full, and a handful of smaller races. It all came full circle on March 17, 2019, when I completed the NYRR United NYC Half Marathon. NYRR is a premier running organization based in NYC and hosts many races in the city throughout the year. All of the runners who impressed me at work and in the park were part of this group, and I wanted to be part of it one day.
It was a tough one because the stairs kick your butt, but ultimately, I was successful! I couldn’t believe I had the courage and stamina to complete my first 5K. I had completed a race in NYC.
In fall 2018, there was a post for the NYC Half on Instagram. I thought it was weird because it is a hard race to get into via the lottery, so why would NYRR advertise for it? On a whim, I asked my friend Ursula if she wanted to try for the lottery with me, and she said yes. Because of the limited number of spaces, I didn’t have much hope of being selected, but we both were!
The event was everything I could have hoped. I didn’t train as well as I wanted, but I had my second fastest time. The city was absolutely beautiful, and even though I was tired at mile 10, the energy of 42nd Street and Broadway energized each step. Finally, when I got into Central Park, I was back to where I use to go on runs five years before. I was running with the motivational runners who inspired me way back then.
The Accomplishment
When I finally crossed the finish line about 2.5 hours later, I couldn’t stop smiling. It was a beautiful morning because the sun was out (it was cold). I crossed the finish line like I had done 6 times before, but this one was different. This one showed how much I had grown and showed me how much I could accomplish in five years. I now did something those motivational people did. As I continued walking, a volunteer greeted me with my medal. Heck yes! Accomplishment!
Then I went to find Ursula so we could talk and get ready for our next challenge…
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