NYC marathon entry is based on qualifying time, lottery, or charity. There you go, so you can't just join them! Well, I would never qualify because I'm one of those mortals who run just to finish and be happy. I'm not good at collecting money either for Charity and that's the reason why I don't do well with my son's fund-raising at school when he was younger, end up paying for the whole thing. So my only way is lottery! So I first entered my name for the NYC marathon 2012 lottery. You only lose $5.00 if you don't get in. Of course, I did not get in! And I totally forgot about it!!! So another year had passed and a full marathon is still not on my to do list, at least in the near future. And I got an email that the lottery is opened again for 2013 so took my credit card out and paid another $5.00 and totally forgot about it again.
May 29, 2013. I got an email alert from my credit card that I got charged some $285.00 (if I remember it right). So I checked and it was NY Road runners. What did I buy now??? I don't remember purchasing any running outfits from their website...Was i scammed? Later in the afternoon, an email was sent. " Congratulations! You are in! Welcome to the NYC marathon 2013!" Holy Mother!!!! I got so numbed I did not know my hands from my feet! I became so excited I started posting on face book! I was so happy that I would be doing it with my friend Annie who has a guaranteed entry this year. Then my thoughts went how do I train? I have other planned triathlon races, I'm going on a big cruise this summer, and so on and so forth.
It's here!!! This is my only chance and it was given to me! Go for it! Others can, why can't you?? I'm not disabled and disabled people can! This is it! I purchased a 16 week training plan and I gotta start. I'm definitely not a new runner so I keep boosting my self. I got my running shoes, my running outfits so let's do it!
The training plan was hard because I don't run everyday of my life. I'm so used to swimming 2x/week, biking maybe 1-2 times a week then run couple of times a week. That is if my work allows me. Don't forget, I have a full time job as a hemodialysis nurse at a hospital which requires on-calls and weekends. Yes, that's how I live and I don't complain. So exercising is just another piece of my life. But going back, my training requires at least 5 days of running with some flex days or cross training. I'm glad I have a husband who runs with me every now and then and I have fitness pals who I've gained over the past years from my Trifitness team that always likes tough workouts and fun races! I like joining them for long runs or short because they motivate me. And my husband who I have to thank because he helps me lot with household chores so I could squeeze in my runs after work. The most I've run was 13.1 miles so I get anxious when the plan says 15 miles, 17 miles, then 18 miles, then 20 miles...Yes, those were my long runs and I did them all without injuring my self. That's how amazed I am in this journey because you can teach your body how to deal with pain. Yes, Pain! It's not a walk in the park to run those miles but your body repairs and adjusts to it. If I don't feel well, I don't run. You gotta listen to your body, too. And I think that was the key to an injury free training. I'm guilty if I don't train but I don't want to be sorry either. And so, I didn't bike at all since my last triathlon in July and I probably swam just a couple of times at the Y when my legs were asking for it. To make it short, I never cross trained which is one thing I know I had to do. But who got time for all of these??? I work 10 hrs each day and I still have a family to take care of. I still have to cook, clean, be a wife and a mother. And remember, I still do need sleep!
Race day is November 3, 2013. One week before the race, I ran my last long run which is 7 miles (happy camper me!). I thought 7 miles was nothing after they had you running 20 miles about 2 weeks ago which was my peak. My usual route is a little bit hilly but good training ground for NYC as they are known for their bridges. As soon as I did my first 1.5 miles, I felt a moderate to severe pain on the top of my left foot and I can't continue. I had to walk it. I stopped and stretched and started running but just can't. I basically walked a whole mile till I got to the beach and started stretching. What was that??? I was with my husband and I said how do I make it back? I tried again and for some reason, was able to run really slow going back home and finish my 7 mile run. So I pondered, did I sprain it or had a wrong stride? I don't know but made me nervous!
The following day was Monday and I'm off from running so I rested my feet. Tuesday was a 3 mile run so I went out again after work and the pain was still there so basically walked again. This time I'm getting worried because marathon is 4 days away. What do I do? Is it my new shoes? I got the same brand of K-Swiss blade light running shoes 3 weeks ago and broke them in already with my 2 long runs without issues. How can it be? What the heck, I have to rule out something before I panic. The next day, I ran my 3 miles using my old shoes but skipped the major hill that I usually go to and guess what? I had no pain so I was very happy and got my spirit back. Then I didn't plan on running Thursday because it was Halloween but I got home from work with a headache too so screw that! Friday, I didn't feel too good at work so I went home an hour early with a headache again and just feeling plain lousy. OK, this is not good! I'm suppose to be carb loading and I don't have any appetite! Am I getting a flu bug? All I want was to lay down! Praying that I feel better so I napped then pack my bag for the weekend. We're leaving early the next morning to New York to get to the expo and meet up with my friends. I asked my husband to order dinner from our favorite Japanese place in town and get me a bento box with Chicken Katsu! I usually down that easily but not this time, I ate just the California roll and the tempura plus 2 pieces of shumai! Went to bed. Next day was expo at Jacob Javits Center. Feeling a little better but still with headache and light headedness. I'm fighting it with a lot of fluids and Vitamin C plus 2 Tylenol extra strength. Didn't eat enough for lunch plus we had reservations at an Italian restaurant near Time Square at 5:30pm. How do I feel? Not well! But I'm not dropping out! I did the training and this is my chance to run the NYC marathon so I talked to myself. " Pray to God, get a good night sleep and tomorrow is a better day!"
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| Was supposed to be my marathon shoes |
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| My longest run! |
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