My Purpose, My Journey

People often ask me, why do you run? The average person may say, because I'd like to lose weight. Another may say, because my doctor recommended it. For the avid runner there is no simple answer. I can sit with you for hours and discuss why I run but the quick answer would be, because it changes me.

Last January my family experienced the passing of two very beloved family members. It was life altering. I spent endless nights lying awake in my bed. I declined weekend invitations. I kept to myself. At the time I was smoking a pack of cigarettes minimum a day, drinking frequently, and toting around an additional 25 pounds. I had fallen so far from the completion of my first Half Marathon 7 months prior. I lost my way.

I needed a change. After a few weak attempts I smoked my last cigarette on February 5th, 2011. I decided that I also needed to set a new goal and drinking a few nights a week was not one of them. The N.Y.C. Marathon has always buzzed in my ear like a nagging fly. For years I shooed it away thinking, "I could never do that." At times I even convinced myself that, "I don't even want to do that!" If that were true and I didn't want to, then why did it continue to linger in the back of mind?


So, I registered for the Marathon lottery. I was denied. Now I had three options. I could apply again next year and hope that my number was drawn, I could run a half marathon in a qualifying time (but considering the shape I was in that would be extremely difficult), or I could complete the qualifications through the NYRR's. I would have to run any 9 qualifying races as a New York Road Runner member and volunteer at 1. 

I chose the latter because in life when we want a change we need to cease the moment.

So, my journey began on February 6th and because so much time has passed before creating my blog I decided to leave out the details in this first post. As I write between now and the 2012 marathon I will backtrack to past races, injuries, stories of how I got to where I am today and more importantly how I plan to stay here.