Runnin' Runnin' and Runnin' Runnin'

So I just got back from a 4.5 mile run on this not-so-cold day and it was pretty fantastic. Today was the first time I ran for 48 minutes since December that I felt little to no pain in my ankle. I'm going to attribute this to the fact that I didn't run over the 25th Street bridge that prevents me from getting hit by a car on the FDR. (rhyme!) You see, I usually start out running downtown and then turn onto 25th Street from 2nd avenue to cross the bridge; however, today I ran down to 21st Street and 1st Avenue and just crossed the street to get to the East River. I usually try to avoid running on the streets as much as possible because it slows down my time and it's awkward to try and maneuver around pedestrians, but running the extra few blocks wasn't too too bad. 

I originally set out to run to the Brooklyn Bridge and back (6 miles, from my apt), but the path I was traveling on was cut-off by a huge snow bank that prevented me from moving forward, so I just turned around and headed home. It all works out though, because I was still kind of hungover at this point. But let me tell you, running is a great cure for a hangover. . .I feel great! 

Something I learned today is that other runners are considerably happier on Saturdays in the afternoon than they are at 7AM on a weekday. I had a smile returned to me 4 times today, and this was a treat. I was told by someone (really, I can't remember who) that it is an unwritten rule that you smile at other runners as you pass them as kind of a solidarity thing. In Jersey, this proved to be true and sometimes I even got the occasional "Get it girl!" from a friendly biker in Astoria, but Manhattan. Jeeze. I have had a smile returned maybe twice before today, and I have smiled at every single runner/biker I have seen. How rude! 

Because of this, I've decided to start a "Smile Count" to see how many I get back every day. I'm hoping this number will grow as the months progress. If you see me running, smile back!!!

Alright, time to shower and then drank. Yup, I'm a healthy runner. This might turn out to be another thing working against me...but we'll just pretend it's not for now. 

 

SMILE COUNT: 4 

Let's Start at the Very Beginning

Ok. So, here's the deal. I have decided to run a marathon.

You may be asking yourself: But Lindsay, why the eff are you running a marathon?

A valid question, hypothetical you.

I started to get really into running in high school (*gulp* 7 years ago...) and since then my love for running has grown.  A skill I attribute to my 13 years of playing soccer, I quickly learned that I can run long distances without feeling like I'm going to die. So, a great deal of 5, 10 and 15Ks and 2 half marathons later, I figured the next logical step was to run a marathon, obviously.

But, aside from the fact that I know I can do it, it's been a personal goal of mine for a while. And what better place to run my first marathon than the place I love the most and call home? New Yoooooork.  *cue Jay-Z/Alicia song*

Now, there are many things working against me here:

1) My bunion. Only a few paragraphs in and we're getting really close to each other! My big toe on my left foot goes inward, and according to my podiatrist uncle, I should not be running at all. Ever. The first four years of my running career, I wasn't sure what to do about this because it was affecting my ankle and shin. Then, in a twist of fate, Runner's World magazine had an article about what to do if you were a runner and had a bunion aka me. Hellooooooo. They suggested that you put a toe spacer (available at your local drug store) in between the bunion and the toe next to it, so that it corrects your foot's alignment. BRILLIANT! This information would have been helpful to know, like, four years earlier, but whatever. The point is, a solution was found, and for the most part things have gone smoothly. However, I'm a little nervous about  it since I've never run this long of a distance before.

2) My hourglass figure. Bless my great-grandmother, she passed her genes onto me. I have a large tookus, a tiny waist and about twenty pounds of my weight is located on the top half of my body...get it? All of these things combined do not make me particularly aero-dynamic.

3) My inability to wake up early to exercise.  Ok, it's not exactly an inability, it's more...laziness and not wanting to get out of my warm, comfy bed when it's really cold and snowing outside. Granted, I've gotten a lot better at getting up, but a gray sky and blowing branches don't exactly motivate me to get up and run 8 miles. Just saying.


So, I guess that's it for now. I'll basically be chronicling the struggles and joys and struggles of my training over the next few months. You'll also notice that there is a lovely countdown at the bottom so you know exactly (literally exactly) how much time I have left until the big day! It's all very exciting.

Oh, also, please follow me because I don't want to look like a lamezor. Thanks.