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 15 Days: Charity Mile Walking, Bagel Club Delights & a Pledge to the Earth

A lovely Saturday morning. Countdown 15 days to the ING so what did we do? We went to get some delish bagels from The Bagel Club (still my fave: an everything bagel with garlic, spinach and olive tofu) and do some more Charity Miles walking for the Micheal J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF).

Walking to the Bagel Club has become a weekend tradition. A good 2.5M walk there and back. Krystal and I always enjoy witty banter, catching-up on what each of us did during the week, what plans we have for the rest of the weekend, chores no one likes to do but must get done (cleaning the kitchen and organizing the drawers, Fall cleaning, me), shadow dancing (me), studying (her), get fundraising material together for Team Fox (me), cuddling and caring for the cat (her). Okay, she has a bit of an easier day than I do today but I will get her tomorrow with the laundry detail-lol.

Some of our chatter on the walk includes the world; the good the bad and the insanity. With respect to the bad, insane and insanely bad events occurring all over, "seriously people, is there a reason we can't all get along better, seriously?" Give me a break with all the nonsensical waste of human intellect, energy, physical and mental capacities to build and do good and unite across all boundaries because of focused efforts to cause divisions for selfish motives and agendas, not to mention waste of time. Time, which everyone seems not to have enough of, but so many choose to spend it causing emotional pain, hardships and strife.

I would like there to be an option on all the bureaucratic forms we fill for hospitals, educational institutions, job applications et cetera that includes in race the option to check-off "human." It is that simple. We are all "human." We are all from a big blue beautiful planet in a universe of infinite complexity, mass, potential, called Earth. If we spent more time collaborating, educating, less war mongering, more peace in keeping what depths in the universe could we not reach, what cures could we not find for the diseases that plague us all, if we spent more time collaborating, educating. I may start checking and filing in the blank for "other" on my forms ongoing. Yes, I know as Krystal would say, "Now Mom that is just crazy talk." But, crazier things have been said or thought that lead to some good inventions and trends of our day. This bit of our banter was inspired by this saying I got from a Facebook post before we started our trek.

"I pledge allegiance to the Earth AND ALL the LIFE which it supports. One planet, IN OUR CARE, IRREPLACEABLE, with sustenance and respect FOR ALL."

The good. There is so much good in the world, so many inspiring stories, some get press, most do not. Here are a few picks of we liked to chat about (besides The Bagel Club, bagels and the efforts of Charity Miles and MJFF).
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An Afghan girl makes a stand on the rights of girls getting an education. Needless to say, women who are educated are an asset not a liability. A woman who is educated will pass on this education to her children, will be more knowledgeable to care for the health and welfare of her family, et cetera. For more on the story of Malala click here.

Colombia's peach talks with FARC- Colombia is such a beautiful country. I am hopeful there will be prosperity for all some day very soon and it will be safe for people to travel all over the country.

Vitamins may reduce cancer in men- Glad my Dad has been taking his every day for umpteen years and we follow suit.

Music Therapy has an Educational Beat- We can all use some more music therapy in our lives :)

Can You Feel It?! 20.52M Charity Miles for the Micheal J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

This saying says exactly how I felt yesterday SORE but not SORRY!! 

On Sunday I trekked 20.5M. It was the longest distance in my training for the marathon. The first 6 miles went nice and easy. Walk-Jog. Jog-Walk. The second 6 mile stretch got harder. Though my knee brace lent support, I was starting to get sore. So we did a little more walking than jogging. And, the final loop was just a wonderful long 8.5M walk. Knowing I could go this far was the mental boost I needed to feel more confident that "I CAN, YES, I CAN!" cross the NYC ING Marathon finish! It's just 6 more miles. I still have time for lots of strength training and cardio- I am feeling it!

I started my trek in a Central Park teaming with picnicking, cycling, running, walking park goers, and more. The sun ablaze. And, ended with the twinkle, twinkle of little stars making their way into the evening sky.

I kept up with my Charity Miles treks for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research with a 2 mile walk in the rain, last night. All the while thinking, "slow and steady." The walk had the effect of a short recovery run the day after a long run and I am feeling like the bionic woman today getting, stronger, faster, better!!

Stepping UP! The Charity Miles 26 Day Challenge

About a month ago while waiting with a J.K.O. Running teammate for others to arrive for our weekly evening run, a gentleman asked if we were doing "Charity Miles." There are many groups of charities that meet to run in Central Park regularly, most notably Team in Training and Achilles International. I thought to myself "Charity Miles" must be another one. "No we are not doing Charity Miles," I replied, "What is it?" Gene, the founder of Charity Miles who was in the park to run with others that day, proceeded to tell us about this app he created for Android and I-Phones which allows people to raise money for a charity while they walk, run or bike.

Can you imagine that? Raising money for a charity while you are just enjoying a walk in the park with your dogs? Earn 25-cents/mile if you walk or run or 10-cents/mile if you bike.

The Charity Miles app took moments to install and I have been using it ever since. I love that it keeps a history of my workouts. By tapping on the bar graph icon on the bottom left of the start menu, you can view details of the last 20 you completed; distance, time, whether you selected to walk, run or cycle, the charity and impact.

 

The impact for each charity will be different. For example, for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research or Autism Speaks, the impact will be funding for minutes of research, for Habitat for Humanity a number of pieces of lumber and for the ASPCA a number of puppy and kitten vaccinations.

If you turn your phone horizontally you will see a bar graph showing the miles you trekked during the last 7 days. You can scroll the history to your first Charity Miles workout by tapping on the right arrow.

The app tracks the distance via the GPS on your cell. You will get an email confirmation with details of your Charity Miles impact along with an attachment of a map showing where you trekked. An added bonus if you do not already have a tool to map your runs.

To use the Charity Miles app you do need to have a Facebook account and to have your workout sponsored to support the charity you selected share a post on your feed. For those who do not have or want to have a Facebook account this is the only drawback of the app. There is an option to tweet as well, but it is not necessary to have your workout sponsored.

The Charity Miles Challenge- Just 1 Mile a day for 26 Days during the month of October - Welcome Fall!

I have been using the Charity Miles app since I installed if for my runs. With the NYC ING Marathon a few weeks away I have been thinking of ways to step up my workouts. Charity Miles sent an email to subscribers on Monday regarding its marathon challenge for the month of October. Trek a minimum of one mile a day for 26 days during the month of October and win a Charity Miles tee shirt.

Since my mother has Parkinson's Disease I decided that I would step up the challenge by logging in Charity Miles every day until, I cross the ING Marathon finish for the Micheal J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. I decided that on the days I do not log in a run, I will log in a walk. For those of you looking for a way to stay fit but cannot find time, consider this, depending on the speed of your walk, whether you are carrying anything etc. you can cover one mile in 25 minutes or less. If you don't have time in the morning, do it later in the day. Set a side some time during a lunch break. Walk to run errands if you can instead of going in your car whenever you can. Get families, friends, co-workers, into the action. The app is FREE and remember #EveryMileMatters.

Singing in the rain or shine, tired or not, I am enjoying skipping the bus and walking home from the train. For Mom :)