To those who have just begun to run, who are over 50, and who have family members who are experienced and talented runners, you can imagine what a thrill it was to be invited to run with my kids.
Central Park in NYC is of course the world famous park in the heart of New York City. The race route wound around some of the best real estate in Manhattan. It was gorgeous. Weather was perfect & made for running - a cool, clear & crisp almost-autumn morning in the Big Apple.
We arrived at 9am for the start of the men's race. While a few of our family went to see the men start their race, Briana & I went to the exhibits and encountered Bob Harper from NBCs Biggest Loser TV show. Pictures were taken - he's very nice and was very accommodating as I gushed "I love the show. I have your DVDs", etc. :D He was there to lead the women in a stretching routine. So Briana & I stretched with Bob Harper and about 200 women runners. Very cool. Great fun.
The women's race started at 10 am. We walked over to the start line and of course I found my bib color denoted that I start at the very back of the pack. No problem. I get it. I'm no Joan Benoit Samuelson - I just want to be there, run my race, and do my best. So as I'm standing there, waiting for the race to start, my son Chris arrived and told me "I'm going to run with you". I was quite surprised - didn't realize he was allowed to do this, but looking around I saw other men also running with the women after they finished their race.
So Chris ran with me, pacing me and coaching me as we ran together. I tried to match him step for step, realizing after the first 1/4 mile that he was indeed pacing me. Mile one, stop for water, mile 2 - feeling good, stop for water & walk a minute or 2, mile 3 - how are you? I was better than I thought I'd be - we're running the entire mile - not run/walking. Chris suggested I only walk at the water stops if I could between mile 3 & 4. At mile 3 1/2 I was starting to fatigue, so I walked about a minute, then continued running. At mile 3 3/4, Chris said, listen - do you hear the loudspeaker & music? You're a 1/4 of a mile from the finish line. Did I need to walk for a minute? No - I was fine! As we came upon the finish line, he held back and then told me - go for it Mom - sprint now! So I took off and ran as fast as I possibly could.
I PR'd that race - finished it in 00:53:03 - and ran a 13:15 min/mile all the way. This is two minutes faster than I've ever run consistently throughout a race. For me - it was an incredible achievement, considering that in January, I was walking on my treadmill at 3.0 mph (20 min mile) and feeling as though I was about to collapse because it was too fast.
This is what running has given me. A feeling of utter joy at knowing that my body is capable of performing like this, AND being able to run with my kids. That I've improved that much in nine months is astounding to me.
Briana's time was a PR for her, which elated us! We all took pictures, then headed home for (what else?) New York bagels with cream cheese & lox. My Central Park 4 Miler - I had a ball.
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