Today I did the 4 mile NYRR race for Haiti in Central Park. This was a race that was only planned right after the Haiti disaster...so, for the past 18 days. Anyone involved at all in NYRR got bombarded with a number of emails, so it was well publicized. Well, in the past couple of weeks, they were able to get 10,000 people out to run which equated 400k. I am quite sure that since it was only 4 miles and a double marathon qualifier, that was why some came out, but it was just nice to see how many people showed up. The race itself was VERY crowded, though. The corrals and the race itself was packed. And, by the time my slowish self made it to the finish, there was a backup and I couldn't cross the finish line. I had to walk through.

But, really, today was not about a PR. It was about doing something good and getting out there with my friends and fellow NYCRUNNERS. Rock on, NYC.

I am so surprised! The past couple of weeks, I've been sick and sitting around way too much. I hadn't run for a week and a half, but then went out for a nice, slow 7 miler on Saturday with my friend, which was much needed. I felt great, then I registered for the Valentines Day 5k in Prospect Park. It was a great day. I love these fun runs. But, fun aside, I had a 5k PR! I did sub 9 miles, which is pretty fast for me. I'm not much of a sprinter. So, I am totally excited to keep running, get into better shape, and push myself harder.

Running for Haiti with NYRR on Saturday, then the Al Gordon in Prospect Park in 2 weeks. It's on!

I am nervous and excited for this next year of running and racing. The most exciting thing, by far, is the NYC Marathon in November. It will be my second marathon and my first NYC Marathon. I am looking forward to training for it, but it's been so long since I've run so much, so I am also nervous. The difference now from when I was training for my last marathon, is that I started training having only run a 5k. I was such a new runner, that it was all totally new to me. This year, I am stronger, I know better, and it will be awesome. I plan to shave at least an hour off my initial marathon time, and maybe more.

I'm also planning on doing the Grand Prix of half marathons in NY, a couple of small relays, other races, and a huge relay in May. It's a new year of running. And it's time to take it up several notches. Ready, set....

There is something to be said for having more free time. Being able to get my 10 miles in on Friday morning rather than the usual Saturday morning was pretty awesome. It broke the normal trend and opened up so many worlds of possibilities.

I've also really enjoyed doing long runs in the evening. I had a great run last year...10 or 12 miles...that went from Prospect Park, over the Brooklyn Bridge, across downtown Manhattan, and up the West Side. We then went to a pub and had dinner before going home. It was sort of like a little mini adventure.

These days, I like changing it up as much as possible. I do like my normal routes at times. They are a comfort. But, it is so nice to go somewhere new. Yesterday I did 5 miles and ran under the Verrazano Bridge. It was a flat and comfortable run, as opposed to the normal hilly runs.

It's funny. This whole running thing. Since I've only been at it for less than 2 years, I still am not used to the swing. The upwards and downwards of distance. The feeling good some days and like crap others. When I have felt like crap, I feel like I'm not a "real runner." But, no matter how short my history, yes I am.

I did 6 miles last Wednesday and then 8 on Saturday and felt amazing. It's been a while since I've done much more than 5 at a time, and also a while since I did that much mileage without stopping. Yes, it's been cold. Yes, I've not been eating the right things. Yes, I've had too much to drink the night before at times and then wonder why my run is such crap. But, last week, I was back.

Saturday's 8 miles were the best I've had in a long time. I ate right on Friday, didn't drink, and got a good chunk of sleep in. I awoke, ate oatmeal, and though it took me a couple of hours to motivate and get my butt out in the cold, I did it. And, I did it like I'm supposed to...slower than my normal pace. They call it "conversational pace," but I call it "able to harmonize with my iPod."

On Sunday, I knew I had to run. I hadn't done any exercise since my pathetic 20 minutes at the gym last Thursday. I was sitting in my apartment listening to the wind which sounded like, at any minute, it would rip my entire apartment building off the ground and take me to a faraway land with talking animals and good and bad witches.

I did not want to go anywhere.

After about 2 hours of procrastinating, I finally got my running gear on and got myself out the door. I ran slowly down the block and to the park. At some point, the wind hit me so hard from the front I felt like it was trying to knock me down while reaching down into my lungs and ripping the breath right out of me. My eyes were tearing so much I had to wipe my face. My cheeks were freezing.

I wasn't always a runner. In reality, I wasn't someone who did much exercise at all. I hated gym class and going to camp as a kid. Physical activity wasn't my thing. But, boy did I love to eat.

Over the years I joined gyms for short periods of time, went on diets, but always remained relatively unhealthy and ultimately lazy. After many years of my weight bouncing around, my mid 20s saw it climb up, down a little, up further, down a little, and up further until, after a particularly stressful time, I reached a point where I wasn't chubby anymore. I was fat.

In the summer of 2006, after the stress had passed, but my weight stayed where it was, I decided enough was enough. I was not to remain a fat person uncomfortable in my clothes, and my skin. So, I went on a diet and lost a bunch of weight. Later that year, I started doing yoga, which I kept doing almost daily.

I don't really believe in New Year's resolutions, but I do believe in writing lists. I find that I make lists of things for myself constantly. It is a way to organize my head and get things out there and published. Black and white. Unable to forget.

So, I am thinking of those things I want to change and do better. My running started as something I resolved to do, but now it is a natural part of my existence. Being that way, even though I run more than many, I run much less than some and not nearly enough for myself. Training for specific races helps me to push myself and keep up with running. I can make a new list in the form of a training schedule. 

I've been hesitant to sign up for the Manhattan Half Marathon officially, even though I am planning on doing the full Grand Prix of NYRR half marathons in 2010 and the NYC Marathon in November. But lately, with the holidays, it's been very hard to keep up with a real plan and I've not really felt much like a runner.