Why Running 26.2 Miles Isn't Really That Hard

Cancer didn't stop my mom from being a real OG.

Sometimes, when I tell people I am training for a marathon, I often hear "How do you run so many miles?" (and why would you want to!?). I don't think running long distances is so terrible because my own thinking about pushing my physical limits has changed a bit over the past few years. One of the reasons I like training for and running marathons is because I feel lucky and grateful to have a healthy body that's capable of chugging along for 26.2 miles. It's a pretty good motivation.

I didn't really think about things that way until my mom got sick, and I saw how much work it was for her to be in her own body. Having cancer makes running a marathon look like a walk in the park. If I have .01% of the strength and determination that I saw in my Mom, I know that I can make it across the finish line of a marathon.

That's one of the reason I wanted to run the NYC Marathon in order to raise money for the Sloan-Memorial Kettering Center, in honor of my mom's strength and the strength of all the other people I know who have been affected by cancer. With your help, I hope to be able to raise $3,500. It'll take us all one step closer to a world without cancer...Which would make marathons seem harder in comparison, but I'm pretty sure that's a fair tradeoff :-)

Hey again!

Well it's been a little while. Life sometimes gets in the way of our best laid plans. After an awesome time at the Warrior Dash last month, muddy ears transformed my long-running sinus/respiratory infection into the world's worst ear infection (at least it felt that way). Antibiotics, vicodin and an emergency room visit later, I eventually ended up missing almost three weeks of training. Then the school year started, and along with it, teaching and plenty other obligations in addition to to the usual dissertating.

But as of last week, i'm back on the wagon- with a vengeance. "Vengeance Wagon" is also a great name for a death metal band. In any case, I ran 15 miles with my BFRBF (Best Friend Running Buddy Fo-eva), Jacquee last Sunday. This coming Sunday, I will be running the Yonkers Half-Marathon. Hopefully I will not become lost. Get it? Lost in Yonkers?! That's comedy gold right there. Since I am also supposed to do my first 20-mile long run that Sunday, I will keep running after I cross the finish line for another 7-miles, at which point I will double back and find BFRBF Jacquee, who is running the FULL marathon, because she is a beast.

I'll let you know how the half-marathon goes, and maybe i'll post some pictures from the course, which follows the Hudson River and is supposed to be quite beautiful. Also, while you're here, why don't you check out my fundraising page again? So far 20 generous donors have helped me make a difference in the race against cancer. I'm a third of the way to my goal! But I still need your help. As I start running longer and harder and sweating more, please consider supporting me!

Thanks guys, and hasta la vista!