One thing is for sure, this adventure started some four years ago. You read that right... Four years ago.
I first decided to put this Marathon on my bucket list back in 2009. Knowing and understanding that the process would be a long one, I took the plunge and entered the lottery that year. I knew the chances of being selected were slim. The day came and I was not. The same thing happened the following year. I entered the lottery once again, and again I was not chosen.
On the third try, my name did come up. I registered and began the journey. But that was last year, 2012. And we know what happened. Hurricane Sandy happened, the Marathon was cancelled. I took an automatic entry to this year's race and began the countdown again.
In my camp, I count with one of the very best trainers in the business, Barry Baird. From my early days in the triathlon world, he took a chance on me. I went solo on my first half iron distance race, Ironman 70.3 Augusta, a race which I thoroughly enjoyed but failed miserably in the run portion. It was obvious that I needed guidance; in comes Barry.
All along the way he has provided me with well thought out plans. Plans that took into account my goals, physical ability and challenges I was facing at the time. More often than not, I would follow said plans just as written, often though, I would take certain liberties and adjust to my liking at the moment. Sometimes I would add, sometimes I would move but always I would train, The sole exception was training for Ironman Louisville. I followed this plan just as prescribed and the results were proof of how well it all worked out. He told me one day I was his "renegade" athlete. I took that as a compliment.
There are two elements of a running plan that I have never embraced; speed work and hill repeats. Hill repeats became a must because in addition to the NYC Marathon, I registered for the infamous Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon to take place in Nashville's Percy Warner Park on Sunday, November 24, 2013. This Marathon boasts a total elevation change of over 7200 feet. Speed work I had never seriously pursued because, well I think because I did not understand.
Hill repeats, I must confess, were a huge challenge at first. Not that today I love them, but I now can do them and survive them. Speed work, pretty much the same thing. It has become a love-hate relationship. I began to see results on my tempo runs. I had always been a 10 min/mile kinda runner. Now this pace was improving, and improving rapidly. I cut a whole minute off this pace in no time at all.
And then I became serious about these two. I would join my friends from the Hendersonville Running Club on long runs, hill work and speed work. I have always been a loner when it comes to training but I soon found out that hanging with these faster runners would also push me to places I had not been before. I owe y'all a tremendous amount of gratitude for allowing me to crash your parties.
As my times improved, I allowed myself to think of the upcoming Middle Half Marathon, the first test of my training improvement this fall, as a race where I could improve on my previous best time, or a PR. I did mention to one of my running buddies one day that my goal was to break that elusive 2 hour time, I had never done this before. About the same time, I expressed this wish to Barry. I had never run any race with a specific "time" in mind. Until now. I was assured that this was within my reach. I began to believe.
Another change that took place, in my opinion a big change, was the fact that I eliminated "music" from my runs.
I have always had trouble getting earphones to fit properly. I have tried numerous and none have worked. During one particular run, I removed the already falling earphone and put it away, forever. I have not looked back once. It has made my runs more pleasant. I am more aware of my body and my surroundings.
And then there's the shoes. But these deserve a post all to themselves.
Because this race cannot be recapped in one post, I have split it into four. Next chapter will come to you tomorrow... NYC Marathon Part II ~ The Middle Half
