In August 2009, I started the Couch to 5K program. I ran two 5Ks! The first was a 5K fun run put on by my university every September. It was the first time I ran 5K at once…and I ran the entire thing! #winning
The second 5K was a cross country 5K, in Van Cortlandt Park, in the Bronx. I had no idea that a cross country 5K involved running up approximately 10000 hills, with no downhills, ever. At least, according to my memory.
After that, I did some running on the treadmill and elliptical, and some spin classes. Whatever.
Summer 2015, I decided to run a 10K, and registered for one in September. I didn’t run it, because it was on Roosevelt Island and the F train wasn’t running (or something).
In November 2015, I decided it was time to start running again, for real. I joined NYRR, and then decided that I needed to make the registration “worth the money,” AKA register for enough races to make the membership-related discounts cover the cost of the $40 annual fee. This involved running my first 10K, in 1:00:29. Then, I decided to complete NYRR’s 9+1 program, to gain entry into the TCS NYC Marathon. Would I actually run the 2017 NYC Marathon?! Who knows!! But at least I would have run (and hopefully trained for) a bunch of races, thereby becoming somewhat active.
In the midst of this, I completed my first half marathon, the More/Shape Women’s Half, in April 2016. My longest run was 15km (9.3 miles), but I completed the race in 2:15:47! I felt like a rockstar, even though my right IT band blew up around mile 7 and I was NOT a happy camper. Also, I wore my spibelt backwards and on the outside of my shirt. What can I say, it was a look.
Pretty much the physical manifestation of WOOOO. Also, sorry not sorry Marathon Foto, I’m not buying this picture.
I ended up running 9 races and volunteering at a half marathon expo, thereby qualifying for the 2017 NYC Marathon…and spoiler alert, I ran it!
In total, I’ve run 9 half marathons (PR is 1:52, from the 2017 Toyota Mediamaraton de Lima), and 2 marathons (PR is 4:31, from the 2018 Tokyo Marathon). I’ve also run a handful of 10Ks and 5Ks, and, for some inexplicable reason, my PRs are from humid summer races. (Actually, the reason is that I was marathon training and in great shape.)
This blog is going to be about many things, but mainly about my running: race recaps, general thoughts about running, etc. I was one of those kids who was super unathletic and only ran the timed mile in gym class under extreme duress. Now, I wake up at 6am (or earlier!) to go running…FOR FUN. My only explanation is that endorphins are intense.
I consider myself to be an average runner, in that I have very average athletic ability, but when I want to, I have a very strong work ethic. In August 2009, I would never have imagined that I’d become a runner, and now I’m a 4:31 marathoner. In January 2016 I ran my first 10K in 1:00:29, and now my PR is 49:27. Crazy things can happen!
Anyway, I hope you enjoy my blog! And if you don’t enjoy…then happy hate reading, I guess.