Running on Faith

When I go running, I completely lose myself.  It's an amazing experience where I get a chance to shut out the real world, channel the music on my iPod and let my mind run free.  I haven't been running that much lately but I just found out I got a spot in the New York City marathon this year, so I have begun to step it up a bit and many of these runs have found me talking to my mom.  She loved the fact that I was a runner.  My Pop Pop, Mimi's dad, was a runner and I actually have a medal he won while running track in college - a very special piece that has been with me since I was in high school.

Recently, my runs have been hard.  I'm out of shape and need to get back on track rather quickly, particularly if I'm going to complete this marathon.  I've started telling people about my intent to run the marathon, largely because I feel the more people who know what I'm up to the more likely I am to run the damn race.  A lot of people have asked if I am running for a charity, which I suppose comes out of the fact that my two sisters rocked it in the 3 Day Walk last year.  Oddly, I find running to be a very selfish thing for me - it's my race, my run and I really don't want to be giving anything away.  I know this is very self-centered, but it's who I am and how I feel right now.  I just like to run, enough said.  And I am very selfish, just ask my husband!

As I was running today, I had this great conversation with Mom (great because I was the one carrying her side of the discussion, which worked to my favor!!).  I was telling Mom how I began to feel bad that I wasn't running for a charity.  We had this great dialogue around my reasons for running and how it was perfectly fine to run my race, and run it for me.  Then it dawned on me, or maybe it dawned on Mimi.  I should run my race and encourage others to do what they want for their favorite charity.  So I am going to take off on November 6th and run 26.2 miles through all five boroughs of New York City.  I am not going to raise any money.  I am not going to pledge any dollars, or any goods, or any time.  I am going to run, and I am going to run with Mimi.  I have decided to have her name printed on my bib that day so when I run through all those miles of the city, the crowds will see her name on my chest.  Maybe a few of them will shout "Come on Mimi, you can do it!" or "Go Mimi, go!"  They will cheer me on and shout her name, and she will be with me every step of the painful 26.2 mile way.  How cool is that?

As Mom and I run the New York City marathon, I encourage all of you to do something for your favorite charity, if you are so inclined.  Give where you want to give, volunteer where you feel your time is valued, and offer up just a bit of yourself to others.  Mom was really good at that.  I am not.  So I am going to run, talk to my mom, and feel some inner peace hoping that others will give where I could not.

I don't have a recipe for today but I'll find a good one to help me carb load the night before the marathon.