I DID IT!
Last Sunday, I had one of the most incredible experiences of my life. Literally! I ran my first (and last) marathon - the TCS New York City Marathon - at the age of 63.
I’m not a runner. Truth be told, I really, really dislike running. But, back in February, I decided that I was going to run the NYC Marathon with the B+ Running Team. I still have the physical ability to run (albeit slowly)…and that won’t be the case forever. So, I ran 200 miles between March-June prior to the official July 1st start of my Hal Higdon training program. Between July 1- Oct. 31st, I ran 420 miles. Running those first two months in the heat and humidity of our Delaware summer was really not fun. In late August, I began a stretch where I was on the road for business for 10 straight weeks for some or all of the week. This led me to run in NYC, DC, Seattle, New Orleans, NJ, Hawaii, and Amsterdam.
I learned a lot about the running sub-culture (runners tend to be very nice people) and I learned a lot about myself. Marathoners will often say that running a marathon is 10% physical and 90% mental. I think the physical part might be a little more than that, but you get the point. SO much of distance running is mental.
It was the most physically demanding thing that I’ve ever done…and I didn’t quit. I had a secret weapon - B+ Heroes! I ran the NYC Marathon with the names of 35 kids with cancer on my arms…kids who I personally knew who died from cancer. I looked down at my arms so many times during the 26.6 miles (when you run a 26.2 mile marathon with 56,000 people, you don’t run in a straight line :) .
I want to give a shout-out to my team - Chris, Ali, Anthony, Luke, & Julia - for putting up with me talking about this for the last 8 months and for my absence while out running. And, to my brother, Tom, and sister, Mary, for providing me replenishment along my training routes and afterwards. Thank you to all my donors who helped me set a record of approximately $17,000 raised for this marathon to help 15-16 families of kids with cancer.
And, to my #1 Coach and Guardian Angel, Andrew, who was with me for all 620 training miles and 26 miles in NYC. Thank you, Andrew. I hope I made you proud. Thank you, God, for giving me this opportunity.
Make it a great weekend.
B+
Ali & Andrew’s Dad
