Qualifying for the New York City Marathon

It has happened!

I am running the TCS New York City Marathon on November 2, 2014!

I cannot begin to explain what the New York City Marathon means to me, or even how the process of committing to qualifying affected me (though I will try to in a following post). All I know is that I am literally so excited that I have  found myself teary eyed on several occasions- on the train, during practice runs, at finish lines- thinking about how it would feel to actually be coming down the final mile. It’s super embarrassing, but true.

Not only did I decide spontaneously that I would immediately begin fulfilling my 9+1 credits, but I decided in August, which left little more than four months to run nine races.And since I am no speed demon (sub 1:30:00  ½ Marathon Qualifying Time? Wici-What!), I qualified via the New York Road Runner’s 9+1 Program.

(Note: Unbeknownst to me, this year was the last year you spontaneously join NYRR mid-year and qualify for the following year. Now you must be a member from Jan-Dec of the year you complete your 9+1).

From August 24th to December 14, I ran 9 races: the Percy Sutton Harlem 5K, Autism Speaks 4M, Bronx 10 Mile , Grete’s Great Gallop 1/2 Marathon,  Poland Spring Marathon Kickoff 5M, NYRR Dash to the Finish Line 5K, Join the Voices 5M ,Race to Deliver 4M, and the Ted Corbitt Classic 15K.

Looking back on those races, two are tied for my favorite: the Bronx 10 Mile (because I had never ran 10 miles before and this race really changed my perspective on running), and the Ted Corbitt 15K (because I finally could breath a sigh of relief, having squeezed in all nine races before the end of the year, and because I had my mom, my aunt, and my mister there to celebrate with me).

Now I just have to learn how to train for a marathon! Then again that is why I found myself signing up for a “practice” marathon this spring… but that is another story. A whole new racing season is coming and I can’t wait to get started.