When I signed up to run the New York City Marathon with my friend Janet last November, I was incredibly excited, but because it was so far off, it felt more like a gauzy notion than a substantive goal. If you want to know how it all started, you can read my blog post about it HERE. Now, with 20 weeks to go, this shit just got real. I couldn’t be more fired up, focused, and ready to take on four months of disciplined training.

My number one goal is to get to the starting line in one piece. That means staying healthy, happy, and injury-free, ready to charge through the five boroughs of New York with Janet who is running her first full marathon. Let’s go! There is nothing like your first marathon, and I can’t wait to share that experience with her.

My second goal is to savor this special journey back to the Big Apple. This will be the 25th anniversary of the first time I ran the New York City Marathon. My first adventure through the city back in 1998 got me hooked on marathons for life. It became the first of nine marathons I’ve run so far, including two which were part of Ironman triathlons. I’m especially excited to return to the Big Apple to run my 10th marathon and soak up that “Only in New York” energy.

My third goal is to raise funds for Team for Kids, a fantastic nonprofit that brings free health and fitness programs to schools in NYC and across the country. Team for Kids focuses on developing healthy attitudes toward running and physical activity, building confidence, and boosting motivation, which of course, is totally my jam. By being part of this team and raising funds, I’m thrilled to be able to pay it forward to the next generation of runners so they can experience all the joy and life-changing benefits this sport has to offer.

Here’s a snapshot of what my first official week of training looked like:

Week #1 (June 18-25)

Sunday: Run 55 min easy pace [5 miles] plus 10 min dynamic warm-ups and 10 min cool down and stretching

Monday: REST (walk, core and foot exercises, and stretching)

Tuesday: Cross-train (45 min spin bike [12 miles approx], 30 min strength training)

Wednesday: Run (45 min easy pace [4.2 miles] plus 10 min dynamic warm-ups and 10 min cool down) as well as 30 min core exercises, and 10 min foot exercises

Thursday: Cross-train (45 min spin bike class with Kristine [13 miles approx], 30 min strength training)

Friday: Cross-train (45 min elliptical [4.5 miles], 15 min rowing, 30 min core exercises)

Saturday: Run (76 min easy pace [6.5 miles] plus 10 minute dynamic warm-ups and 15 minute cool down walk/jog), as well as foot exercises and stretching

Sunday: REST (walk, foot exercises and stretching)

Snapshots:

Highlights:

• Spectacular weather after three months of Graypril, May Gray and June Gloom.

• The simple fact of being consistent and knowing one week is officially in the books. And looking forward to rocking next week!

• Raising $860 for Team for Kids in the first week of fundraising. Thank you to James & Hensley, Jenni, Emma, Sarah & Richard, Susan, Jen, Deborah, Kirsten, and Christina! With your generosity, we are now 1/3 of the way to my goal of $2,620 (for the 26.2 miles I’ll be running). My gratitude runs deep.

If you’d like to support my marathon effort and help create running programs for schools across the US, and get kids fired up about a lifetime of health and fitness, click on the link to my Team for Kids fundraising page HERE. No donation is too small, and for every $10 you donate, you will automatically be entered into my giveaway for a pair of Hoka running/walking shoes. All the details are in the link.

Cheers to our awesome fitness community, setting new goals and to kicking off another adventure!

Happy running!

xo Becky