My Reward

*Sigh* Thank you to everyone who supported me throughout this adventure.

"We are different, in essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon."
-Emil Zatopek

Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon Race Report

This pretty much describes how I felt about the Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon on June 21st. Yes, it's been awhile sine then, but I needed time to gain perspective. Believe me, I did not have anything positive to say about my first marathon experience right afterward. I was just happy for it to be over.
We got there a couple days early to adjust to the time change. Anchorage isn't the most beautiful place especially in comparison to the rest of Alaska. Not...even...close. The day before the marathon, we all went for a short 20 minute run, I could definitely feel all the nervous energy/excitement in our group. We all wanted it to be over. The unknown is always scary.

My first glimpse of Alaska.

Surprisingly, I was able to sleep quickly and we made sure to keep the curtains drawn as Alaska gets 19 hours of daylight during the summer months. 19 hours!! It can mess with your head a little.

I couldn't believe it was finally happening. I'd been training for 6 months and the day had finally arrived. I felt a little sick. What if I couldn't finish? I would not only be letting myself down, but so many others. That freaked me out more than anything.
Ready to start.
A bus took all of us from the hotel to the start line. Having witnessed both the New York City Marathon and the Boston Marathons, my expectations for the number of runners and spectators are more than a little skewed. Those that had traveled to the marathon probably increased the population of Anchorage by 25%. I wish I was exaggerating.

We started and I quickly found my groove. After the second mile, it started to rain and it kept up for the first 8 miles. The course was supposed to be a combination of paved paths and trails. My expectation of a trail is packed dirt, maybe some rocks. This course had 7 miles of rocks which made it difficult to stabilize and for me to maintain pace. It was awful and put a tremendous amount of pressure on my lower legs. Running the bridle path in Central Park did not prepare me for this assault on my body.

7 miles of hell
Not only was I hurting physically, it was wreaking me mentally and emotionally. They say that most people hit the wall at mile 20 and I was hoping that I would not be affected. I hit the wall at mile 19. I felt like that the race officials had moved the mile markers farther away. I kept moving, but each mile just seemed to get longer and longer. Would I ever get to the finish line?

The marathon ended on a track at the local high school. Finally after climbing the last hill, I came into the school parking lot and saw my coach. I can't begin to say what I felt when I saw him. I was a jumble of emotions and was unbelievably happy to see him. He grabbed my hand and told me that the rest of the way was my victory lap. I hit the track, light and pain free as I saw all my new friends and the big finish banner.

Would I do it again? Maybe in a few years, but right now I just want to savor the experience I had. Six months of early mornings, late nights, speed work, long runs were worth it for that moment when I crossed the finish line.

The Final Miles...well, at least till the actual marathon.

I'm in the home stretch with training for the marathon in Alaska, which means I'm in the home stretch as far as fundraising is concerned as well. I don't leave for the Alaska until June 19^th, but the folks over at The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society have asked that we get our donations in by MONDAY!!!

That's just few days for you to help me reach my goal of $5000.00 raised to fight leukemia and other blood cancers. Seeing as the LLS does all the hard work, I figure it's the least we can.

What will your donation get you? How about that warm fuzzy feeling in your belly that you get when you know that you just did something really, really good without expecting anything in return? Sounds pretty good to me.

What are you waiting for?

You guys have been awesome so far. How awesome? $3500.00 awesome, that's how awesome.

But I'm not there yet. I only have $1300 more for this event and for that, I need your help. With all of the great and generous people we know, it won't take much. Just $25.00 from you (or your friends and co-workers who you are more than welcome to pass this along to) will go a long way towards helping me reach my goal and it will do so much more for the people that the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society will be able to help with that money. And not for nothing, it will make it a LOT harder for me to quit out there around mile 21 in Alaska.

I only have 6 dedicated miles left so get your mile now!

Mile 5, 8, 11, 12, 14, 20 are up for grabs.

Seen

• Man running while juggling (yes, he was still going faster than me).
• Pregnant woman running (at least 6 month along!).
  
• Man at Strawberry Fields in Central Park, sitting with cash till giving money away. I only wish I'd had time to stop and ask why and perhaps get a 20 bill.
• A blind woman running with sighted partner.

and lastly,

• A troup (yes, a troup) of wizards. Must have been a student film project, but in New York, who knows?
  

Let's Get Together...

Hope everyone can make it. It's going to be great time. The weather will be beautiful and it's always nice to get together with friends you haven't seen in awhile. Bring anyone and everyone you can find!!

~Saph~

Finding the Balance

Nuff said.

~Saph~

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Oh the places I've run...(Part Deux)

Okay, there were some issues with the pictures I wanted to post showing all the places I've run and a glimpse of a future trail that I hope to conquer. But that's all fixed thanks to Erin.

So why pictures of places that I've run to? Well, running is pretty much the only way that I've been learning about New York City. Central Park? Forget it! Sadly, I could have lived here for 3 years and never step foot in it. So, I'm working on that and hopefully even after the marathon, will continue to do so. Suggestions as to places I should definitely hit are appreciated. Enjoy the pics.


Later,
~Saph~
http://www.active.com/donate/tntnyc/tntnycSNajafe