Step Over Step, Mile After Mile

This was a fun course, with a good friend of mine. We started the run and headed out, things seemed to be going well minus some slight cramping. My firend Norm and I, met a very nice runner Courtney. We all paced out about the same, had same goal times so we ran together, sometimes one would run further ahead than the other but through 12 miles I was pacing around 12 minute miles, which is about where I wanted to be timewise. The one thing I didn't take into account for was: potholes. I tripped on a pothole around mile 15 and tried to keep running. I was able to get to the medic tent at mile 16. They stopped me and wouldn't give me medical clearance to continue. I was frustrated, angry, disapointed. My post to Twitter and Facebook was this: "Devestated at the medical tent with either bad calf pull or a torn muscle" as the ice and asprin started to take effect I realized I could walk and jog lightly on it. if I ran hard I could feel it but it didn't seem to be as bad. The medics told me they would have to wait for 7 people to need the shuttle in order for it to come get me or i could walk up to the next shuttle point and wait there. I decided the latter. As I started to walk I realized, it will probably take me as long to get to the shuttle as it will to get to the finish on my own. Stubbornness, determination and the thought of all my donors crossed my mind. So I decided to run. Then walk then run. I kept thinking that I was not going to stop. I traveled 2000 plus miles I wasn't going to let a little (a lot at the time) pian stop me here.

As I ran by my coaches from Team in Training they ran me in the last 3 miles. I have to say, and I say this to myself after each marathon, I don't know where I'd be without the continunal training and positive words my coaches provide. They are all fantastic and are such great people. We in New York are very lucky to have the coaches we do. It really makes me excited to plan for my next event knowing I'm in such good hands.

I have some video that I will post up here and will give you more once I've finished. Including my annual tweets from the marathon. I do want to thank all my friends, family and online supporters. I was overwheled when I saw I had 77 new facebook notifications and roughly 25 new mentions on Twitter. You guys rock, and kept me going during a very difficult run, but one of my most rewarding runs.

Happy Running!

Asked on Facebook what songs should I put on my pre-marathon get psyched playlist. Here were some suggestions:

Noah Santorello "The Final Countdown" for the last mile.
Cheri Hartman Depends on ur style. My playlist for running is all the new albums for: brittany spears, adam lambert, lady gaga and black eyed peas and a little akon and kid rock.
Payam Eric Nili I would walk 500 miles by the proclaimers
Mony mony by billy idol
Pablo C. Rayo "Hate Me Now" by Nas
Kristine Storle Kilcup Who let the dogs out!!!! Lol, I think it is fun to clean the house and listen to that, maybe it'd be good for running too
Meaux Feaux peace frog by the Doors. usually id be mean and sarcastic here, but i appreciate what youre doing.
Barbara Shimasaki Proud Mary, Tina Turner
Traci Oshiro ooo i got loads to send you!
Mike Haas 2 legit 2 quit

Thanks for your suggestions all. Here's what's on my Get psyched list:

Poker face - Lady Gaga
Safe to Say - Valencia
Good Girls Go Bad - Cobra Starship
The House Is Rockin - Stevie Ray Vaughn
Today - Smashing Pumpkins
Listen Up - Valencia
When I Grow Up - Pussy Cat Dolls
Stronger - Kanye West
Welcome to the Jungle - Guns N' Roses
Don't Let It Go To Your Head - Fefe Dobson
Get Over It - The Eagles
Hello There - Cheap Trick
I'm Going To Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers
He's Going The Distance - Cake

Happy New Years Runners!

I've been spending the first few days of this month/year/decade reading about reflection pieces and resolves for 2010. It got me thinking about my 2009 a bit. Last year as a whole I felt my running probably wasn't what it should have been. Battling through injuries and at times my own personal laziness (the latter probably was a bit of a cause to some of the injuries) and just never felt as comfortable running in 2009 as I did in 2008. Maybe it's because I ran with such a big chip on my shoulder, or maybe because it was so "new" or maybe that I was burned out from running so much. I'm not sure. I took a more upbeat approach to running in 2009. I was focused more on external things. Forgiving myself & others (well I guess that's internal but it was to remove the fore mentioned chip on my shoulder), trying to embody what the running community was about and trying to better my running skills. But see I feel I may have gotten away from something. I spent the first few days of this year trying to figure it out and it came to me. What I had lost was this:

I had gotten so caught up in all those other things, I didn't focus on the general resolve of running. As my fourth marathon approaches in 13 days, I've realized that running is where my peace comes from. It (even if it's temporarily) removes that critical voice in my head, the anger and even removes the angst of others out of my life. It's a time spent with me. My resolve is to run. To run for me, not for time, not for others, not to impress anyone other than myself. Let me tell you something runners. It's ok to be selfish when you run. It's ok for it to be about you. You and no one else. Most of all it's ok to own your own destiny. The thing I guess I love the most about my running is, I'm the boss. I don't have other people telling me what I need to be doing, how fast I need to be. Instead I have a network of people who cheer me on, regardless of when I finish. It's kind of nice to take back something for yourself. So I hope you do. But remember your supporters, during long runs sometimes they are the ones who get me to the finish line. My second marathon all I could think about was then from mile 18 on. It was the first time my parents saw me run. It was VERY special. And all I could think about was my parents traveling to San Francisco to see me. Well and maybe the fresh seafood at Fisherman's Wharf, but mostly me =o).

Look never forget why you started running and how it makes you feel. Don't forget about the people who are important in your life and know it's ok to lean on them. Don't worry about a time or the style of your shoe. Sometimes it's just as important to remember why you run and how it makes you feel.

I know I'm lucky I can run. I know I'm lucky to have the supporters I do and I know it's ok to be selfish when I run as well. I hope you all find your resolve to run or to keep running!

Happy running readers and Happy New Year!