I have been running for a while now and participating in races for charity here and there throughout the years, but this year is going to be all about running for me. I feel that a lot of people have a love/hate relationship with running and have found myself struggling often with the act of running. It can start with a nagging injury or just not having the motivation to find the time to get in that run that is so crucial to my training. Now its time to get over those roadblocks and just love the run.
The NYC Marathon has been on my list of things to do, forever. I figured I would run it when I was in my 30s with 2 kids and a steady job, training while trying to juggle a household and a private clinic, not as a student at the age of 24. Over succot I got to spend some time with someone who was running the NYC Marathon that next month. He happened to be my age and I guess it inspired me to start thinking about the feat as something feasible to me, now. The next week a good friend of mine from high school emailed me to tell me that her father had just signed her whole family up for the 10k race in Tiveria in January 2010, that he already bought them tickets to Israel and I should join them in racing. 10 kilometers was something I could imagine myself doing and training for properly in the span of 2.5 months, so I signed up. I was looking for some good training programs online and I obviously checked my beloved Runner's World magazine. There was an article in the latest issue about running different races and distances throughout the year inorder to keep on track with training, see where you stand and most importantly not get bored. Once I had already signed up for the 10k, I signed up for the NYC Marathon. I figured, I go back to America once a year, I might as well make this trip worth my while...(Not that seeing my family and friends isn't.) Entrance is not guarenteed since I'm not part of a group or running for one of the marathon's charities so I decided to find a way to make sure that I would definitely be running this race. I used to work at a great running store in Tel Aviv, Pro:Sport, and I love going back to visit when I need to restock my collection of running gear. It was time, so I made a special trip to Tel Aviv and it was definitely worth it. In addition to the shirts and socks that I bought, I found out that the store was putting a group together for Issta Sport, which automatically grants you entrance to the race. That night I sent them an email and signed up to run the race for Israel. I can't say that my time will be worth any recognition but I'm going in to finish, not to win any prizes and running for Israel is just a perk.
With the guarentee of being able to participate in the marathon, the 10k in Tiveria and that article, I decided to make this year a year of running races. A year for me, not for anyone else. It might sound selfish, but I'm ok with that. Like I already said, I have raced for charities. Maybe next year will be different.
Oh, and lets throw in the Jerusalem 1/2 Marathon, just for fun :)
This blog will be about my journey thru 2010 and the ups and downs of training.
Hope you all enjoy.
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