Ok, so a lot of you know by now that I am really struggling with the entire idea of the New York City Marathon.
Ahhhh, so crowded!!
Yes, it was my decision to do it. I actively seeked out and joined a charity team to fundraise for entry into this race.
So why, if I seemingly have no desire to run it, would I have done that??
Well, as a runner (which I still don’t really call myself, weird right??), I feel like the New York City Marathon is just something you HAVE to do at some point – I even put it on my race bucket list which I posted over 2 years ago!
Back in April I decided this would be the best year for me to do this race since 2 of my good running friends, Daniel & Pat (who you’ve seen around these parts before…) were doing it as well – I figured if I was going to do a race I wasn’t thrilled about, I may as well do it with friends! I registered and hoped that as training ramped up and race day got closer that I’d get more excited.
Unfortunately I feel like a little bit of the opposite happened.
Between the time I registered and now, Jason and I moved out of New York, a place that neither of us loved and where we just weren’t happy. I think I’m so anxious about even having to go to New York for this race, just because I’m so glad that I don’t live there any more and I don’t want to go back! (I don’t know what I think is going to happen…it’s not like once I cross the state line in to New York there’s not going to let me out again! Right??!)
Because I never got excited about this race, I wasn’t motivated to train and my running hasn’t felt great the past month or so.
Add to that my complete anxiety and intimidation of all things New York City, plus all of the race day logistics that I have to worry about and I have literally done nothing but stress about this race and how much I am dreading it.
I know. Not the way to go into doing the New York City Marathon.
A lot of people have reminded me of why I’m doing this – TO RAISE MONEY FOR PUPPIES! (And kitties of course!)
So this morning on my way to work, I decided that I’m going to really try to focus on that.
I’m running because I asked people to donate money to North Shore Animal League for me.
I’m running because I owe it to everyone who stepped up and supported me when I asked them to.
I’m running for puppies!
And I’m going to write that right on my hand on race day to remind me.
On my other hand I’m going to write “B+”.
For any of you who have been around here for awhile (THANK YOU!), you may know the story of why I started running. You can read the entire story HERE, but the shortened version is that I decided to run a half marathon in memory of my Kerry who lost her battle with Leukemia.
Her motto was B+. Not only her blood type, but her mantra through her fight.
I haven’t been very positive these last few weeks leading up to the marathon (pretty sure I’ve been downright cranky and bitter) and I need to try to change that otherwise all of these terrible, miserable, no good scenarios I’m imagining about race day (me sitting on a NYC curb alone crying…) are going to come true.
And then I got an e-mail today that couldn’t have been more perfectly timed.
A former co-worked from New York sent me a video he had shot of Kerry shortly before she passed away that I had been looking for. It reminded me not only of why I began running, but of some of the good times I actually had in New York.
The video is from probably my most memorable and special day working in New York. One that I’ll never forget, but definitely needed a reminder of.
For the next 5 days I am really going to try harder to “B+”
& remember that I’M RUNNING FOR PUPPIES!
*Please note I said “TRY”, I really will try, but I’m sure I’ll slip up, if you hear me being negative just remind me I’m running for puppies!*
**You are welcome to watch the video my friend Devin sent me, he put it on YouTube so that we don’t lose it again! The quick background is that Kerry spent almost 8 months in isolation in the hospital being treated for her cancer, she was released when they felt that there was nothing more they could do. It was the day before the last Rangers home game of the season and as a huge Rangers fan Kerry hoped she’d be able to see a game – I got her the tickets, but my co-workers all stepped in and helped make this day, her last Rangers game, completely magical for Kerry…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz_YkrvOsdk&feature=youtu.be**
Live, Run, Grow 
Yes! Puppies! Puppies make everything better. That’s why you’re running for them 🙂
Exactly! I love puppies more than I don’t love New York so there’s that to remember! : )
“B+”
Wow… never watched the video of Kerry before…. beautiful. Thanks…. dad
: )
I’m not at a place I can watch Kerry’s video, but I am at a place that I can cheer you on to run NYC. NYC is a magnificent race. The crowds and the spirit will carry you….
Thank you Kim, your comment means so much, I owe you a big hug when I see you next! Good luck this weekend if I don’t see you!
Hmmm… do you think NYRR allows doggie strollers on the course? ’cause I’d push one. And I’d love it.
Haha, I wish I could take a puppy along with me for the run! (Probably not Madison, she’d freak out with all those crowds…she’s kinda like me : )
Good luck!
Thank you!
Puppies!!! Puppies and kitties!! And B+!! You’ve got this!
Thanks Emily – I think that’s going to be my mantra for the race! : )
Great, now I’m crying so hard I can hardly see to type. 🙂 As bad a day as you think you may be having, just remember Kerry. That face when she looked at that jersey with all the signatures on it was priceless. Yoga is all about setting intentions, right? I can’t think of better intentions than saving puppies and honoring memories! Roxk those miles and make them your bee-yatch!
Awww…I’m sorry, don’t cry! Honestly, it was such an amazing night. I knew if the season ended without her getting to that game that chances were she’d never get to another…I got the tickets for the game, but all my co-workers really made the night amazing. She had an escort the whole night, got to watch some of the game from a suite with Adam Graves, and as you saw she went out on the ice to get a jersey and then back by the locker room to meet another player – I can’t take credit for all of that, I worked with some amazing people who knew how special Kerry was to me.
I don’t think any of us had dry eyes when she walked out on to the ice.
You’d have to have a heart of stone NOT to be crying at that! Thanks for sharing! That’s just another one of those things that helps keep everything in PERSPECTIVE. Like, you know, running in NYC on Sunday??? (Like how I slipped that in there, heeheehee….) 🙂
DO IT FOR THE PUPPIES! And for the bagels (er, I mean pretzels and OJ)! And for Olaf! And most importantly, do it to remember Kerry…why you started running in the first place.
You are my hero for bringing me pretzels and Orange Juice – I’ve never run a marathon without it!
I think you’ll be surprised getting to New York. When I moved from Boston, I hated so much about the city and I tell people I fled to Texas. The first time I went back, it felt so fresh again. I wasn’t living there, I wasn’t working there, and it felt nice to visit.
Haha, well I’ve moved away from New York once before (I’m actually originally from there…) and was never too thrilled to have to go back. Unfortunately my husband’s job brought us back to New York to live for 5 years and we just finally escaped again!
I don’t think I’ll ever love New York, but hopefully this race will help me appreciate it a little more : )
(P.S. – oddly enough I LOVED Boston when I lived there! Funny how everyone is different, right??)
That is some fabulous inspiration!! When I ran/ was training for my first 5k it was for a little 8yr old who passed away from cancer also. It was great to have her story in my head while training just for inspiration, but most importantly perseverance. I hope you stay strong and keep the positivity up! Just think, once you’re done with it, it’s OVER! lol
Kerry was & is incredibly inspiration to a lot of people and I consider myself incredibly fortunate that our paths crossed – I just needed a little reminder to get out of my own way on this one!
Yes, definitely puppies…and Kerry! I’m glad you’ve found some motivators. I REALLLLLLLY want you to enjoy this race even if things haven’t gone as planned leading up to race day. I’ll be doing lots of cheering from VA. 🙂
Thanks! I really needed something to turn my attitude around about this weekend…
This is an awesome post, and a great reminder of why we subject ourselves to this physical agony in the first place! What an inspiration. You’re going to do great on Sunday, I just know it! Hope to see you!
Just want to tell you good luck tomorrow!!!