Today the New York City Marathon was run in - you guessed it - New York City! More than 38,000 runners filled the streets and participated (there were an estimated 2,000,000 spectators), using 360 Porta-Potties and 42,000 PowerBars (just for some random fun facts for you). As far as celebrities participating this year, looks like actor Ryan Reynolds and soccer player Brandi Chastain ran (Lance Armstrong and Katie Holmes participated last year). It really sounds like a great race - one I'd love to participate in someday when I'm not in the middle of a tour! The men's winner took home $165,000 - $130,000 for winning and $35,000 for finishing in under 2:09:00 (his winning time was 2:08:43).
My personal running dreams have recently had a run-in with reality. I turn 30 this December, and it was my goal to complete a sub-4 hour marathon before I turned 30. With our touring schedule the only time I had off to make an attempt at this was Thanksgiving - hence the Atlanta Marathon was my only option. Unfortunately, in order to accomplish this task I needed to train - and the last couple of months on the road did NOT allow for that one bit. So... reality has spoken and I'll be running the 1/2 marathon in Atlanta - my sub-4 marathon will have to wait for 2009. But it WILL happen in 2009 - hold me to that, fellow readers!
What are your running goals for 2009?
I am a masters runner (45) and will run the 2008 Dallas White Rock Marathon this weekend (12/14) for the first time...my second marathon. I only started running about 3 years ago, just to get in shape. I stayed with it, joined a training group last fall and ran my first marathon last February at the 2008 Cowtown in Fort Worth. I missed my goal of 4:15 by only 20 minutes. My goal this weekend is 3:59.59!! In February 2009 I plan to run in the 2009 Cowtown Ultra-Marathon. By the way, I highly reccommend 'Brain Training for Runners' by Matt Fitzgerald. It is an excellent book for runners of any experience and distance. Glad I found your site! Blessings!
Posted by: Barry Brown | December 10, 2008 at 09:29 AM
In 2009 I want to run a 5k. I've always wanted to run, and I would probably be a runner now if I'd had a coach or knowledgeable friend to get me started. Downhere (and a lost dog by the interstate) actually inspired me to get started this year. I'm losing weight and going to the gym regularly. I'm doing incremental run walks for 45 minutes several times a week. No shin-splints for several months now and longer/faster runs. Maybe in 2009 I can 5K at your 4hr marathon... I'll take Liam in the stroller. :)
Posted by: Carrie | December 08, 2008 at 06:19 PM
To start running again and keep going: after a missions trip to Uganda and some conviction about gluttony I've lost ten pounds, and maybe that will keep the swollen knees and stress fractures away.
Posted by: Chicagobanana | November 16, 2008 at 03:16 PM
That's only 1 Porta-Potty for every 5,661 people. Remind me never to spectate a marathon.
Posted by: Carla | November 14, 2008 at 02:58 PM
To run a 5k in the spring - 8 k by the fall. Just started back running a couple of months ago. Up to 2 mi now. (I just turned 48). But, I think the categories of these things should be by weight not age :-)
Posted by: bg | November 05, 2008 at 05:37 AM
Run a 5K in less than 30 minutes.
Run a half marathon in 2:45.
Maybe run a marathon.
I'm trying to prioritize my goals so I know how to train this winter.
Posted by: Lori | November 03, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Run a 5K in less than 30 minutes.
Run a half marathon in 2:45.
Maybe run a marathon.
I'm trying to prioritize my goals so I know how to train this winter.
Posted by: Lori | November 03, 2008 at 12:21 PM
I finished a 1/2 marathon yesterday. I am pretty sore right now. Next year I hope to run the same race but not take so long to do it. (2:20:57)
Posted by: Scott | November 03, 2008 at 07:22 AM
Within the past couple of months, I've run my first three 5Ks and my goal for 2009 is to at least run a half-marathon. But, I am using Jeff Galloway's 32 week marathon training schedule in hopes of actually completing a marathon in 2009! It's great to be able to read about your running, it's both encouraging and inspiring!
Posted by: Kati | November 03, 2008 at 04:42 AM
Considering the fact that I am not a marathon runner, my goals are just to run and get back into shape. Things had really been shaping up for me, then it got way too hot in Florida to run so once I started getting into it, things were brought to a screeching halt.
Posted by: Kaitlyn | November 02, 2008 at 09:18 PM