2012 NYC ING Marathon Count Down The End: Carry On

I am not disappointed the marathon is cancelled. As a New Yorker who has family and friends in the dark, who have had damages to or lost their homes, I am relieved. I was going to run because my mother has Parkinson's disease and I wanted to dedicate my first marathon to her by running with Team Fox, a team that engages in a variety of activities to to support the efforts of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research! GO TEAM FOX!

As Arnold would say, "I will be back!" NYC ING 2013

I was inspired to run by Mom and the members of the Brooklyn Parkinson Group. How could I not be! Look at what all they do!


Brooklyn Parkinson Group: Dance for PD from Soo Hyung Kim on Vimeo.


They put a great deal of effort into those movements!

There are people suffering day in and day out with numerous diseases, some life threatening, we runners we do what we can to support the causes in our way, by fundraising and raising awareness while we run. Many of us run for more than one charity and help raise thousands of dollars. And I am talking about us average Jane and Joe runners. Surely the elite runners have their own foundations and give even more. In addition, you have many runners who themselves run afflicted by or recovering from a disease, are disabled, etc.

My 2-cents or dollars worth of opinion that I did not want to share pre-marathon because there were enough people out there dishing out divisive and corrosive criticisms is that it would have been better to postpone it until relief efforts where well on their way and NYC's transportation was running closer to normal or make the cancellation announcement earlier, Tuesday or Wednesday instead of late Friday and mail runners their bibs and jerseys who could not make it to the expo to pick them up. I have enough goodies from past races. All those hand lotions, bottles of water or what ever could be donated.

I will always heart my NYC!

Did I want to run through a neighborhood that has no lights? Would I have felt real good that friends of mine who have no lights would come out to cheer me in the dark (I am not a fast runner, I would be in the back somewhere)? NO, and NO. This was not the memory I wanted for my first marathon. Even if I was going to wear a fox costume, run with a "I Heart My New York," sign and try to make my run a festive display for those who would come out and cheer because we do need some cheer in the city. On that note Mayor Bloomberg was 100% right! Our city is divided beyond all reason. I am sick and tired of all the backlash that runners are getting. I am sick and tired of hearing people say why don't you bus all those 47,000 runners to volunteer as if runners do not do anything! Sorry but that is the wrong attitude to have.

And so it this...

A fight starts at a gas pump.

Crowds watching gas pump fights and arguing with owners.

Lines going around a block and then some.

NYPD Resources being wasted on monitoring gas pump mobs instead of in relief efforts! Seriously!

All these people waiting on lines for hours for gas. What kills me is that I saw several people walking several blocks with their orange containers to get gas in a neighborhood that has 3 bus lines that can take you to a train, and a LIRR. I saw people fighting with others and with the owners of the gas stations. I saw our bravest, NYPD wasting time to monitor riots at gas pump brawls instead of on relief efforts. So to all of you complaining about the marathon taking away city resources like the NYPD. Thanks! Thanks for diverting these vital resources because your gas is more important and worth fist fighting for than going to volunteer and help those in the devastated areas.

I will be taking a train to the city in a few minutes to run and support charities that are providing Hurricane Sandy relief efforts in some way. Today many runners will also be volunteering and teams are holding many events to help the city on their own initiative! That is what good runners do! And, most of us give a shit about our fellow New Yorkers and are not whining for hours like this.

I will not run a marathon today! But I will run my marathon on my own time. My point to runners who may be on the complaining side is, we should not need a road race to hit a running milestone we should remember why we run and just do it.

2012 NYC ING Marathon Countdown 7 Days: 3.76 Charity Miles, Looking Back at My First Long Run

Today was recovery run day. Just a short run. Not more than 4 miles. No running longer than 40 minutes.

I decided to run a route I plotted on MapQuest when I started to get into running 5 years ago. Back then I just ran on my own. I didn't know about sneaker choices, running styles, training programs for beginners like the C25K (Coach to 5K), gear, nutrition, clubs, or the multitude of apps out there, like MapMyRun. All extremely helpful to help you get on and stay on your running track. I plotted points on MapQuest to figure out how long my treks would be. I started with just a mile and added a half mile every week or every other week. I remember how I struggled just to run a quarter mile. "If I can just get up to Taco Bell," I remember thinking, "then I will take a short walk break." I never stopped for a Taco. It was just the best stopping point. One block further than Carvel, which may have tempted me to stop in and get a strawberry coated vanilla cone and head back home.

When I got to a mile I was ecstatic. I continued my loop back home to complete a 2-mile trek. What a workout! My thighs hurt. My shins hurt. My feet hurt. All this pain, for what? To try to be a runner? Who was I kidding. Who thinks about getting into running after they push 40-something(s). The avoidance monster would smother the calls of the running/fitness muse and I would stop trekking for a week or more before I heeding to her call again.

As I trekked up the boulevard I was surprised how light and easily I was jogging. I could not but smile the entire way. My knee is still a little tender and I was not going fast, but compared to the me a few years ago, "Wow!" I was really having so much fun! I was enjoying the sights along the way. Fall leaves blanketing lawns, pumpkins on steps.

Fall leaves on a neighbor's lawn. I just wanted to jump in.

I love this quote by Rumi, "What you seek is seeking you." And, today it was very apropos. I never thought I would be in a marathon, I really just wanted to be able to run the route I plotted 5 years ago without a hitch, be able to do that a few days a week and I did it! 

I have been as consistent and committed to my fitness as I can be. If I can't run I jog. If I can't jog I walk. If I have to mix it up, I mix it up; fartleks, interval training. 

I made a promise to myself to do Charity Miles every day from October 2nd, until I cross the finish line at the marathon next Sunday, barring some extreme event or physical condition that would prevent me from running, jogging or walking. You know how we promise to do things, but when it is just to ourselves it is easier to slip than when we promise to do something for others, for once I did not slip. My commitment was inspired by my Mom, others who have Parkinson's and my support for the Micheal J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research but also for me. Because without yourself in the picture, when you run or walk or do other activities inspired by or for a charity or for someone you love, the picture is not complete.

Luck number 7- days to the ING!

2012 NYC ING Countdown 8 Days: The Last 10 Miles

I have been asked by others participating in the marathon if I am doing the last 10 miles. I thought this referred to some marathon training program they were doing but found out they were referring to running the last 10 miles of the NYC ING Marathon course to get familiar with it, not just to their tapering down.

My original plan today was to just trek across and back on the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge (a.k.a. 59th Street Bridge) which I heard was a daunting spot on the course. But after a series of exchanges with other J.K.O. Running teammates we ended up organizing a trek that included crossing the Queensboro Bridge and trekking the marathon route all the way to the finish in Central Park. A last 10 to 12 miles, depending on where each of us started and decided to finish.

It was a stellar fall day for a run. Three of us crossed over the bridge each at our own pace, along the greenway to meet up with the rest of the team waiting on the Manhattan side.

I avoided the slope up, to avoid further risk of injury to my knee which is starting to feel much better. I will tackle the hills and slopes up to the bridges next Sunday. Today was just a meet and greet.

Hellooo! Queensboro Bridge!

Hello, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge. Just passing by.

Hello, Willis Avenue Bridge. Coming through. Coming through.

I never would have thought of going the distance alone, but discovered that the weekend before the marathon many individuals and groups were doing the last 10 miles. There was easily one group passing us every 10 minutes. The Niketown Running Club was well represented. It was nice to get a hug and a smile from a co-worker as the pack she was in passed by. My spirits went up another notch! "Yes, we are so in this! To the finish!"

The trek through the Bronx is rather short, but you still get a taste of the borough's life, its people as you go through. I am looking forward to hearing some Bronx cheers on the 4th.

Heading down 5th Avenue past 110th Street, and Harlem Meer, we were greeted by a sculpture of monument proportions of the legendary Duke Ellington. I could not believe I go this far. Able to jog most of the way with a few walk breaks. Knowing you have awesome teammates up ahead or at your side is priceless! Thank you all so much!

Statue of Duke Ellington in Central Park

The entry into the park was an amazing oasis of color. We marveled at how a city like New York that is always hustle and bustling with movement, noise, could have such a serene setting in its heart. The views were breathtaking. I could not resist stopping to photograph this...

Fall Fever Hits Visitors in Central Park.

It is hard to believe a storm is coming our way. I am hoping that Hurricane Sandy does not hit like, Hurricane Irene, which floored all the trees circling The Grand Army Plaza, and damaged hundreds of others in the park the fall of 2011.

We made our way down, in and out of the marathon loop, ending at Columbus Circle. Not the ending I had planned, but being familiar with the slope up to 72nd Street, I felt it was best to pass. My feet will greet this path for the "kagillionth" time in eight more days!

Maine Monument, Merchants Gate, Central Park

And, what could be better than completing an 11.85 mile trek that has the extra win-win of earning Charity Miles for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, funding 29.63 minutes of research.

Heading back on the train, an arepa de choclo I stashed in my bag and a bottle filled with Emergen-C Pink (lemonade flavor) hits the spot of refresh and replenish.

2012 NYC ING Marathon Countdown 13 Lucky Days: What's in a Number?

When you hear the word number(s) the first thing that comes to mind may be:

At times numbers can be Twilight-zonish

Images like this connoting confusion and complexity. Perhaps you are thinking of Pi=3.14159 which is an irrational number (numbers have been known to cause some to become irrational about them) and it is also a transcendental number (thinking of what you would do if you won the Mega Million, Power Ball, Scratch off, or other Lottery? Maybe you are thinking of going on a 365-day-permanent vacation, buying a new or first home, a giant engagement ring, hiring a maid, a butler, and personal assistant or taking the trip of a lifetime to outer space on Virgin Galactic- you have just been transcended to another place. What magic these numbers have!).

If you have been bitten by number mania (Is there a better expression for one who loves numbers than number maniac? I couldn't google one.) and mystery you may be thinking of the hit TV series spelled Numb3rs. Yes, Numb3rs and numbers everywhere can solve anything! It just takes a little time. And who doesn't like a hot or spicy number?

Hot & Spice & Everything Nice. That's what Numb3rs are made of!

Even if you are one who says, "I don't like numbers!" You must make your peace with them. Numbers are the roommates, family, friends and others that influence us the most, often without our full awareness and perhaps at times agreement.

What time is it? A: A number(s).

How old are you now? A: It's my birthday, ask me tomorrow I want to be happy today? (A number(s)).

What is your weight? What is your HDL & LDL? What did you get on the SAT's, GRE's? Answers: A number(s).

During my training leading up to the marathon, I spoke with others training about pace, distance, number of repeats, reps, time for recovery, percentage increase in workouts week over week, target and maximum heart rate.

While talking to other barefoot, minimalist runners I learned about drop. My New Balance Minimus have a zero drop which means my heel is at the same plane as the front of my foot unlike other running shoes that have a raised heel (2:1 or some other ratio). And, music which is a series of notes in number, and a most welcome accompaniment on long runs.

Numbers are sometimes considered lucky. Lucky number 7. Or, unlucky as in 13. But, today I feel that 13 is my lucky number. My knee is finally feeling better. It does not lock or hurt when I turn to walk left. In 13 days I will trek 26.2 miles or 42.16481 kilometers, in a fox custom (you know you want to see that!) to continue my NYC Half Marathon efforts to raise funds and awareness for TEAM FOX. I am about 25% of my goal. I know with the support of my family, friends (the numbers in my life that I heart- Yes I heart you #'s), I will get to 101%.

To lend your support please click on this link  Mo's Marathon Fundraising for Team Fox 

My deepest thanks to all who have already.

2012 NYC ING Marathon Countdown 17 days: Knowledge is Power!

"Knowledge of what is possible,

 is the beginning of happiness."

-George Santayana

2012 NYC ING Marathon Countdown 21 Days: Back to the Tried, Tested and True in Running Shoes

It's just 21 days to the Marathon. Where did the time go? I feel like it was just yesterday when I announced to family and friends "I'm in!" I guess the training days went by so quickly, because I was really having fun!

My longest run to date was 18.76M 14 days ago. I pushed myself a bit but scanning my notes of what I had been doing up that point in my training, what I eat the day before a long run, amount of rest, workouts during the week, pace etc. I found that the the one variable that was different, that may have lead to my hurting my knee was as simple as not wearing the same running shoes I had been wearing all along. I did not know then what I know now about not changing into new running shoes with less than 5 weeks before a marathon. I will add this DO NOT change the type of running shoe you are used to running to something very different. I have been transitioning from sneakers with a lot of support to minimalist ones that have a more barefoot feel for over a year and a half and did all my marathon training in either my Puma H-Street for short runs up to 6M or New Balance Minimus for anything longer.

I am known to run in just my stocking feet for up to 5 miles and will do the occasional full barefoot run. I got into barefoot running by chance. I forgot my sneakers on a business trip so I ran in just my socks on the treadmill at the hotel gym and enjoyed it. I was on the mend from an ankle fracture. All of my PT was in bare feet. Something about the barefoot run just felt more comfortable for me. As time progressed, the shin splints, fallen arches and other issues I had improved. I did my research on barefoot running before looking for and joining a barefoot running group (Barefoot Runners NYC). I got excellent tips on running form from the group's organizers and more experienced members. So, what made me want to change to a running shoe that had a higher wedge and additional support (a pair of Puma's I have that are similar to the Puma 550)? Listening to others about the logic of wearing running shoes with more support and believing that as a newbie to marathon running this would be the best. But, was not the best at this stage in the game.

I love my daughter's catch phrase, "You do you!" Short for "Be Yourself!" "Don't do things just because others are doing them," etcetera, etcetera. Somethings may work for me others may work for you. So, "You do you. Man" "You do you!" Thanks, Krystal for you regular reminders!

Running in his barefeet because there were no more Adidas running shoes in his size, Abebe Bikila gets the gold in the 1960 Olympic Marathon.

A side can be taken pro or con barefoot running, pro or con wearing running shoes of one type, brand or another. Just as you listen to your body to stop when you feel you have run enough or push when you feel you can go an extra mile, choose the footwear that feels just right for you. This will help reduce your, risk of injury in addition to good training and conditioning.

This weekend  those training for the ING Marathon will be doing their last long run before tapering down until race day. Generally 20 to 22 miles depending on if it is their first time running a marathon or not. It is my first so I should be doing 20 miles.Yesterday, my daughter and I trekked 3.3 miles of which we jogged .75 miles while our other J.K.O. teammates ran. It was one very fine Fall day. Today should be just as great.

I want to get to the start of the marathon healthy and ready to rock, so I am not pushing it! In a few hours I will head out in my old faithfuls, my NB Minimus and trek the mode and distance that is just right for me :)

Once Upon a Time Hurdles: Colgate Women's Games

We all like to save and collect things. Sometimes it can seem like too much, especially from an outsiders perspective, (that would be anyone but to the saver collector-you). "What do you have in those boxes?" "What do you have in the attic?" "What do you have in the basement?" "What do you have in the closet?" And, a part of you has to wonder, "Do you, even remember?" Besides skeletons in the closet, from last year's Halloween decor, do you, remember what you have?

As a parent I am guilty, like many of having a box of assorted memorabilia from my daughter's early years. First notebook from her preschool days at a Mommy & Me Program I helped lead at a local church. First Kindergarten notebook, and finger painting. I remember those days she would come home all excited to show me what she did in school. "Look what I made Mommy." And, busy with homework. Her first science fair project on how the knee works. Its gold medal sticker a little torn because a jealous boy peeled it up. I was so proud of her. How many children in first grade carry a copy of Gray's Anatomy in their back pack to school.

I  kept her first Halloween costume from when she was 3. She wanted to be a mermaid. What little girl did not love or want to be Ariel? So, I made her her a long green shirt that was shaped like a fin. I also kept the first costume she helped make herself from Kindergarten. She wanted to be the butterfly from Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar for the Costume Parade at school. The wings did not fit in the box but they folded nicely into a portfolio with my drawings and illustrations.

I have the first 2 teeth she pulled herself. I never had to worry about pulling any teeth, except in the teen years to get a conversation going, she was more than happy with the D.I.Y tooth pulling approach. Love that independent spirit. Baby shoes, a couple of baby outfits, a collectible Barbie watch and doll, and a few papers she wrote that got A's, and other mementos are in that box in the closet too. One day, I may forget what is in it. One day she may help me go through it and other assorted papers and things I may have as I helped my mom yesterday. And, maybe she will be pleasantly surprised to find find something that triggers a fond memory of her past. As this certificate my mother kept did for me.

I was in Junior High School when I was first interested in doing some running competitively thanks to one of my best friends from elementary school. Up to that point I enjoyed sprinting when there was a chance during gym classes or racing my brothers down the block. I was good with short spurts of winded energy. I had always enjoyed watching the Olympic track and field events and loved to watch the marathon. How in the world someone could run so long so fast I had no idea. But, for a few weeks I got to enjoy competing in 55-meter hurdles, 55 and 200-meter runs at the Colgate Women's Games and dreaming of one day doing more.

My friend and I did not belong to a track club. Participation in track clubs cost money that was not in the family budget at the time. So we trained together after school. She would run to my home to meet me. I would run back to hers and back home. She was fast. I did what I could to keep up with her. I really just wanted to do hurdles. That was going to be my specialty. I practiced for hurdles by jumping chain linked fences. I was doing that on dares with other kids for some time anyway. All I had to do was imagine myself jumping higher. I had no idea what to expect when we got to the games. But the girls on teams and others were more than helpful in sharing tips and I flew by my first round on the 55 meter hurdles. The rest is a blur. I just remember coming home tired.

I don't know if the Colgate Women's Game certificate of participation came in the mail or if it was given to me at the end of the games. But, I am happy that my Mom kept it among other things, after all these years. With 2 months to go to the NYC ING Marathon, I am excited and a little nervous. I never thought in a million years that the day would come that I would be able to say, I am going to do a marathon. Like the NYC Half, I will be running my first marathon with a Team Fox jersey on. I am looking forward to making it across the finish line and putting any certificate I get in a frame next to this after showing it to my Mom.

P.S. My fundraising effort is still going on please click here for more info and to donate. Many thanks.