What running has done to me

Hi everyone,

Some of you have read my last blog and emailed/called me about it. It was written on a tuesday am at like 6AM. I was awake and figured I would use that extra time to tell me donators, friends, family and colleagues the full marathon experiece.

I am sure there are details that are missing, but I think you got the picture!

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone that has supported me throughout this experience. the friends that have put up with my constant marathon talking, the friends that have stayed there even though I demanded to meet at home vs. going out on the town, the family and friends that donated their money for a great cause, the colleagues that checked up on me after every single long run and came by to congratulate me after the race, my mom and my dad for making the trip and putting up with my frenetic pre-race stress, my very close friends for being there in my heart and on the side lines for the 26.2miles....all of you...it's been great! and thank you so very very much :-)

I see now more than ever how great running is and how great it has been to run this marathon with team for kids.

I have become so much more mellow. Yesterday something "bad" happened. Two days ago too. the only difference in my reaction was if I had gone running recently or not. Two days ago, i was on my 5th day without running and I snapped and got cranky and did not let go. Yesterday, the problem just flew right over me. I let it go and focused on more positive things. I cannot even start to explain how important that is for my wellbeing!!!

It's not that I don't care about things anymore, I am just as passionate, but those things that bothered me and stayed with me now seem to fly over top of me.

For that reason, i will keep on running.

In regards to the marathon and my time.

I read a book this summer on running. the only one I was really allowed to read, because it seems that otherwise I was becoming obsessive (thanks to those friends that are close enough that they feel they can tell me that, i needed to hear it!!). The author said, running a marathon is not a competition vs. the other runners. i am guessing that for the athletes, it is. In my little under 5hour world, it's not about the others. It's selfishly about me only. I wanted to finish close to 4h30, well under 5hours. I did not reach that goal and I am disapointed. Did I not finish in a decent time understanding that I was in pain early on and sad to have missed my mother at mile 8? Yes, but as i never take it easy on myself, I am disapointed.

As some of you might know, I decided not to commit to any races before today. Monday has come and here are the options:

- run the paris marathon - april 2010 (start of training dec 1st)

- sign up for a triathlon in april/may

- sign up to climb a mountain (i thought that was a fun new idea)

- sign up for one half marathon every 2 months until I reach a decent time (this last part is tricky)

- sign up for the chicago marathon (oct 2010)

No decisions yet made. I might sleep on it a couple more nights...

On the "am i a runner" topic. I was running in Miami this weekend and took a look at the other runners. Their shoes, t-shirts, shorts, speed....I guess I feel more of a runner than those people. But I also feel that my casual pace does not put me in the "serious" runner category. This bodes the question, what really a makes a runner? Someone that runs often? someone that runs long distances? someone that runs fast?

Keep on following my running adventures, they are not over yet :-)

Cheers