A beginner’s emotions and inspirations
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For all of you newcomers to running I hope my article can help you out. I am a new runner myself. I have tried to research the topic before starting but it is hard to research something that is physically demanding to your body…you just don’t know how it is going to be until you try it yourself. This is a document of my journey…the journey I am still on and trying to figure out how to succeed. My Athletic History
I was never really athletic…I’ve always tried to be but have always failed. I think that when I was born that gene was missing. My parents never really allowed me to play any sports either…it’s not like I am a supermodel or anything like if I would have injured my face or limb that it would cost me a career or something, they just preferred if I was a dancer. So that’s what I did. Ballet, tap and jazz for sixteen years of my life. I did beg them to play soccer one year and what a disaster that was. I played defense, the only girl on a coed team for the FIAO (Federation of Italian Americans Org.) and never got a chance to get anywhere near any of the action and when I did, I either got hurt or did something wrong. After one season they gave me a trophy but didn’t invite me back to play.
Motivation
I have a younger brother, Vincent, and he started to train to run for the NYC marathon last year. He completed a series of marathons around the tri-state area before entering and come November he was picked (it’s a lottery) and completed the marathon. I was in complete and utter awe of him, how he was so committed and disciplined and actually followed through and finished what he set out to do. I was jealous, happy and so proud of him all at the same time. I think these feelings would have even been more intense if I was there to see him cross the finish line but I was too busy giving birth at the time. These emotions had triggered off a feeling of determination and ambition I have not felt in a long time and I knew I had to do something about it.
So here I am at a turning point in my life, about to turn thirty in a couple of months, a mother of two young children and in need of a challenge (not like motherhood isn’t enough of a challenge) but I needed this mentally, physically and spiritually. I have told myself before that I was going to run and try to train for a marathon but I have never actually come to do it, there was always an excuse. It’s too early in the morning, too late at night, I am tired, I am hungry, busy, and you name it I’ve come up with it. And then one day I woke up early as usual (my children like to wake me up somewhere around 5 and 6 am…thanks kids!) and gave them to my husband to take care of and said see you guys later! I just felt a yearning that day and thought, “it’s now or never!”
At first I had no idea what to do…so I looked up some info online and of coarse consulted with my brother and his website nycjog.com (your welcome for the plug) but no matter what anyone tells you, you have to get out there and try to do it yourself. For some motivation my brother bought me a really nice running outfit so I would look the part, thanks Vin! And I was off, I have a track near my house but there was no way I was ready to run that far, it’s a ½ mile away and if I even made it there what the hell would I do when I got there, look at all of the runners? And how would I make it back? There was just no way. So I decided to run around the neighborhood one block at a time until I could make it there and back without having collapsed on the side of the road somewhere.
Finding a Routine that suits me
At first I had no idea what to do. Do I eat or drink before I go? Do I run with a bottle of water or sports drink? What if I get dehydrated? I know people sweat a lot and loose a lot of fluids and have heard horror stories of people who collapse and vomit after marathons. However, the key word here is marathon, I had to keep reminding myself that I was simply running around the block, taking things very slowly and I doubt highly that any of these things would happen to me, I wasn’t in a marathon yet! And I truly believe that each person finds their own niche and routine in how they want to run. For instance my brother hates early mornings and chooses to run in the evening after work but before a meal. I run early in the morning on an empty stomach. I get cramps if I eat anything before and then feel like I am going to hurl. To each is own.
In the beginning I ran with my thoughts but they were either racing through my head or I ran out of things to think about so I needed a distraction because the finish line felt like it took forever to get to. So I got myself some music to run with and it has been the best distraction yet. Sometimes I need something up beat to get me really motivated and I have to say the Black Eyed Peas do a great job of that however sometimes I feel like I am shaking my booty too much when I am running or singing too loud. Other times if I am stressed or need to burn off some steam Linkin Park is a great pick for that… I call it my “mad music.” I feel like I need to knock someone out when I am listening to them but it’s such a great release and I come home feeling like sunshine. I hear that audio books are great too but I don’t think that I am ready for that just yet…the concept of comprehension and running at the same time scares me…remember people I am only a beginner here.
The Mental and Physical Challenge
My neighborhood is really hilly and running downhill was great but getting back up those inclines was torture. Some days were easier than others, in the beginning everything hurt and burned, especially my calf’s and ribs. I felt like I was going to die, die, and die. But guess what? I am still alive and with a little bit of insight from an article I had read (thanks Anna!) I just kept telling myself that I really wasn’t going to die!
Understanding what it means to be a runner
As for now it has been three weeks that I have been running. Each morning my husband pulls me out of bed, literally, and my little cheerleaders gaze out of our front window waiting for mommy to make her way home. That really is the extra reward that I get out of all of this. However, besides all of the pain, sore feet and limbs I’ve experienced so far I feel the greatest sense of accomplishment each time I complete my run. I can run two miles now and have set a goal for myself to complete the Damon Runyon 5K at Yankee Stadium on August 15th. I think I can run the entire three miles and how awesome is it that I will run my first marathon in and around Yankee stadium for an awesome cause, cancer research ( generous donors needed), with an awesome team nycjog.com!
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Wow…..that was beautiful….what can a Mom say…..I am proud of you and your brother….It truly was remarkable to see both of my children run at Yankee Stadium and of course to have my grandson watch and cheer …Go mommy go!!
It was great and hope to see more races to come.