Been thinking about putting together a blog to log my running experiences for a long time... I probably would have been better suited to begin this all at the start of my journey over a year ago. (I went from completely non-active to completing the 2013 New York City Marathon in a little over 6 months, which I'm still scratching my head at.) 2013 was an epic, stand-out year for me due in large part to running and the way it changed my life.
If I get to posting here with any regularity, perhaps I can mesh in stories of my endeavors in the last year... but, there's no better place to start like the present!
Yesterday, I completed my first "Team Championship" race in Central Park (5 miles, held by New York Road Runners) with the North Brooklyn Runners, and ran at a personal best pace of 8:14/mi, completing the race in 41:09. It was a rainy morning, but I felt great and was thrilled with my results. I also had a blast participating as a member of my new-found team - hearing their cheers throughout the last mile absolutely helped propel me to a faster finish.
I joined North Brooklyn Runners (NBR) about 2 months ago, after a year of seeing them (and to be honest, feeling a little intimidated by them) at all of my race events. Really thought I had been doing a masterful job training all on my own for a year, using the internet for reference and talking things up with other casual-runner friends. Early on in my experiences, though, I knew I was serious about the sport and willing to dedicate myself fully. After tanking and taking a DNF at my second marathon in the Spring in Cape May due to injury, I felt pretty dejected and decided I could use a little back-up...
Joining NBR has resulted in EPIC improvements to my training regiment, experiences and finish times. I've started completing their weekly speed workouts at McCarren Park track every Thursday, which I may NEVER have engaged in on my own - my sprints on Thursday nights help me speed things up throughout the week. I go on "Form Runs" every Wednesday night in Prospect Park with coaching and tips from my peers with far more expertise and success than me in the sport - my breathing and stride have already improved dramatically. The long runs that NBR organizes on the weekends are also much more varied and exciting than the routes I had been repeating for months (over the Brooklyn Bridge and up the West Side Highway.) The "Narwhal" Saturday long run has become the highlight of my week. Getting to explore sites of the city as a runner, some which I had never visited before, like Governor's Island, Randall's Island, etc. has been such an incredible adventure. I feel a stronger bond to my city and enjoy seeing new parts of it with curious eyes and strong legs!
Since I've started running in May, 2013 I've improved my running pace by almost 2 minutes per mile. Much of that improvement has taken place in these last couple months that I've trained with NBR. I am so happy to have gotten over my inferiority complex and/or insecurities and initiated my involvement with the group. I'm even more thankful for their help, support and camaraderie.
