Tag Archive | runner

Slow but Steady

Mar8

If you are in the running community, you probably saw the post from the fast runner lamenting how slow charity runners basically stole her spot. Now I am not going to call her out by posting her post because I am sure she is not the only speedy runner to have thought that. She may be the only one though silly enough to post that online…….. Then again, here I am posting online my thoughts. So there’s that.

I saw the people with the pitchforks come for her. Poor woman apparently deleted her social media account or so I heard. I personally, feel a little bad for her. I’m sure she was upset about not getting into the race and technically she isn’t wrong…. But, yet, she is.

By the numbers that I could see:

2025 total finishers: 59,226

Charity runners: 14,000 who raised over $80,000 million.

2026 over 240,000 people applied.

From a Runner’s World article: “This year, NYRR only accepted the top 10 percent of non-NYRR marathon time qualifiers, which means athletes needed to run at least 22 minutes and 52 seconds faster than the qualifying standard for their age group.”

Here is my take as someone who has run for Charity multiple times.

  1. NYRR is a business. Yes, they are non-profit, but make no mistake….they are a business. This is a business decision as a non-profit giving back is key to their goal. They also have a goal for 2026 charity runners to raise 100,000 million for the 600 charities these runners support.
  2. Running slow and running for charity is hard….

Let’s talk about number 2

When you get in as a charity runners, you know that if you do not reach your fundraising goal that you are PERSONALLY responsible for it. On top of that, most charities do not cover the cost of your bib which is over $300. When you sign on to be a charity runners, you sign a contract stating that you agree to these terms.

Being a charity runners means that besides training for your race, you also need to spend a LARGE chunk of time fundraising to meet your goal. This is why I tell anyone who runs for charity to make sure that it is a charity that is near and dear to you.

When I ran for Sandy Hook Promise, a charity near and dear to me, I spent A LOT of time fundraising. Yes, there were family and friends who were supportive. I also did bake sales, auctions, shoe collections and other events. It was daunting, scary, and a lot of work to meet and surpass the fundraising goals.

Then there was the “normal” training. Slow runners train just as hard as fast runner while actually needing to find more time in our day to do it since our runs take longer.

Then there is race day:

This is from a previous post marathon slow runners train post of mine:

“There is something about having the grit and determination to get to the finish line while they are rolling up the carpets so to speak. When the crowds are sparse…… When the sun is setting…….. When it is dark in the park……. When you have to be your own cheerleader……. When you have to dig in deep to find your own grit and determination because you are the reason you are there in the first place and you will be the reason that you get to the finish line. There are no massive crowds to carry you to the finish line, but those that are there know how much that you need them. I was lucky to have a friend cheering on 5th Avenue. I almost missed her but she strained your voice to scream my name loud enough that I turned to see her………. It was perfect”

Bottom line

If you are a fast runner – great!

If you are a slow runners – great!

If you are a lottery winner – great!

No matter how you get there….. No matter how you run it……. When standing in the coral, we are all just runners.

I also put in for the lottery this year. I did not get in. I don’t hold that against the other random lottery winners. I just know that is just the way it is.

Running is for EVERYONE. Not just the speedy ones:)

Day 1

Dec26

There is something to be said about waiting until you are ready to do something to actually start. There was no dread today. There was no, “I’ve go to go out for a run today,” said with dread.

None of it.

Today was a “I am going to go out for my run as soon as I’m done with my coffee” kind of day.

I can tell it has been a hot minute since I’ve seriously run as I couldn’t find my Garmin. Still can’t. Still looking, but I also didn’t let that deter me or stop me from getting out the door.

I was excited. It was a perfect day for running. The not too hot. Not too cold kind of day. No jacket required. At least for me as I always run hot.

My NYC Half training plan stated with a 3 mile run and that’s what I did. I didn’t watch pace, but did keep it as a conversational pace which I 100% did as I was on the phone the whole time! I walked when I got out of breath, but for the most part stayed at a stead pace.

Not too shabby if I do say so myself!

In all seriousness….. Not too shabby. I have not been doing anything unless you count testing and eating Christmas cookies. I’ve done a few walks, but have not run since I really don’t know when. Hopefully this is the beginning of a good training cycle.

I’ve got a plan loaded into Training Peaks. I am doing the Hal Higdon Novice 1, because let’s face it…..I am starting from scratch.

One day at a time…. One run at a time…. One workout at a time.

This is what it feels like to have fire again:)

This is what it is like to remember to show up for yourself.

Here is hoping the fire continue to burn!

Becoming Stationary

Aug3

Often you don’t know you are moving forward till you look back. Only then can you see how far you have come. Sometimes though, you might not see how far you have come but realize that instead…… you are in the same place. That nothing has changed. That while you thought you were moving forward but that you realize that you didn’t do the things you thought you were doing. That you have been stationary or worse thinking you were going forward but on a treadmill not really going anywhere

That you have just been going through the motions.

Questions being asked……

Am I blogger?

Based on my current blogging history, maybe not. Does anyone still even read this? I’m not sure. If you do, feel free to comment and say Hi:). I feel like I haven’t had much to say. If I can’t motivate myself, why would anyone want to read about an unmotivated runner.

Am I a runner?

Why is this always such a hard question to answer? It really shouldn’t be since I’m kind of (yes, I said that) training for the virtual NYC marathon. I also have run several 5K’s and 2 half marathons this year…. Yet, yet, yet….. somehow I don’t feel like a runner anymore which really doesn’t make sense. If you run, you are a runner. I know that mentally but somehow in my heart

It’s also funny because my kick ass 75 year old mother who this year battled a pulmonary embolism is back to running. She refuses to call herself a runner which annoys me. She is constantly saying, I am just jogging. I’m not a runner like you. She is running usually at a 16 minute plus pace but she is out there getting it done. She is running. Plus as previously mentioned, she is 75!!! She is putting me to shame with her drive. I keep telling her that she needs to give her body a chance to recover. I would bet that she has logged more miles this year than me. 6 miles here. 4 there. Day after day. Yet she doesn’t see it. I do though and while she says I motivate her, she motivates me.

oh, and as I’ve mentioned before all these miles she is putting in are on her street. Back and forth she goes. With her new water belt and tracking on her watch. She is a true bad ass.

So with that inspiration, I know that if she can start running in her 70’s, Continue to run after literally almost dying, continuing to run to the point where I tell her to give it a rest, then maybe just maybe I should take my head out of my ass and get moving.

In November, I will be completing the NYC virtual marathon. This will be my 10th marathon. I know my marathon times have gotten slower, but I’m still out there. Still plugging away. Even though training is different, I am still training. My body is different, but for now it is still capable. Oh, and I am also training to compete a Sprint Tri. Isn’t that enough?

I realize though that it is not just me because in a running group someone new posted about being a “casual runner.” I think we all do that and we all need to stop. If you lace up your shoes, you are a runner. Stop. Full Stop.

We need to stop comparing ourselves to others, to our younger self and realize that we are all just doing the best we can on any given day.

PS – The summer heat is not helping!

It Wasn’t a Lie

Apr25

Most ”normal” people need to be talked into running a marathon. Usually either a friend will lure them in or it is a personal goal, but event then there must be some type of persuasion to do it. Unless, of course, you have already run a marathon. Then it isn’t so much talking youreslef into running another marathon as much as trying to keep yourself from inadvertantly signing up for another one.

How do I know this?

Because I am living the life.

I truthfully without sarcasm have 110% been honest that I am done running marathons. I love the idea of not training for anything. I have talked with friends about how awesome it would be to meet up for a run and then do brunch. We are even planning to go to NYCM as spectators and then do brunch again. It seems like a great plan. An amazing plan. A fun plan. A sane plan.

I also admit that my body is tired. I have been spending countess hours working on getting my home baking business into an actual business while still working almost 30 hours outside of the home. Oh and ”taking care” of said home and all that is supposed to entail. While having somewhat of a non existent but existent social life that someone who is a extrovert introvert (it’s a real thing) enjoys.

I have not been lying when I say that I don’t want to train for any more marathons They are grueling. It is exhausting. The whole process is horrendous. Seriously. Does ANYONE really enjoy training for a marathon?

So why do we do it? Why do we put ourselves through so much for the ”pleasure” of running 26.2 miles on race day. The blisters….. The early wake up….. The training when we don’t want to……. the feet issues….. the chaffing….. so many reasons not to do it. So many VALID and SANE reasons not to do it……..

Conversation with son this morning in car as we see an ”elderly female runner.”

Son, ”that’s you.”

Me, ”No, she is running faster than me and has better form. Although, I have filled out my application to run NYCM for Sandy Hook Promise again. I haven’t sent it in yet though because I’m not sure.”

Son, ”Don’t Do it. You ALWAYS regret it.”

Truer words have not been spoken…….

Yet….. here we are with my finger one key stroke away from hitting send. Will saner minds prevail or will I jump back into crazy town. I, honestly, don’t know…… I wasn’t lying when I said I was done with the marathon. I’m just not sure that the marathon is done with me especially when this would be 10 marathon and also with 10th anniversary of Sandy Hook.

So many reasons to say no…….

So many reasons to say yes…….

I have until April 30th to ponder.

What Makes a Runner?

Oct27

I will admit some people are literally born to run.  They have the long legs and lean shape that makes pushing through the wind an act of beauty and ease.   Now just as everyone who was given the God gift of a runners body does not like to run, many of us who are not so lucky also choose to run.

I am one such person who was not born with a runners body nor do I have any hope of developing one.  I am not even remotely close to being tall at my 5 foot 2 which may also be a slight exaggeration.   I have short legs and I do not have the lean physique of top runners.  You would never look at me and think, “Wow, she must be a runner!”    I will let you in on a little secret though.   I am still a runner.

The Webster definition of a runner is as follows:

run·ner

noun \ˈrə-nər\

: a person who runs as part of a sport, for exercise, or in a race

There is nothing in this defniton that says that says that I can’t be a runner.   I meet the criteria.  I run both for exercise and in races.  So check, I’m a runner.  I don’t even need to do the races and I still qualify.   I have the desire and heart to be a runner and that’s all it takes.   I may never (and there really is no may in this sentence) be more than a middle of the Pack runner and I’m ok with that.  I’m still a runner and that is all that matters.

I have even been told that I must look funny running fast (that being a relative term) because of how short I am.   Well I have never crossed a finish line where they asked for my height, so that really doesn’t matter to me.    And if you have seen some of the things that I’ve worn while running, you know that I really don’t care much about looking silly or others opinions too much.   I run for me and I hope that you have the confidence to run for you.

I think often we limit ourselves with thinking we can’t do something because maybe we don’t fit the traditional mold.   I hate molds.   I hate limits.   I like to push limits and prove that I can do things that both myself and others thought that I could never accomplish..   The worst thing that we can do in life is let others expectations and views define us.   We need to break the molds and be who we want to be letting no ones keep us from reaching for the stars.

Do you push your limits too?

sparkle