Tag: New York

16 Weeks Until The NYC Marathon, But…

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July 13, 2025

***

Well, this is a strange and unique feeling for me.  The NYC marathon is 16 weeks away and today would be the start of my marathon training season.

But I’m not training for marathons any longer.  

My most recent marathon last January was my last marathon.  

As I completed the Dopey Challenge in Walt Disney World in January, I determined that my marathon days were over.  My reasons for retiring from marathoning are legion.  I’ll touch on some of them below, but I have written a lot about that on these pages before.

The following are some of my scattered thoughts as I break away from the 16-week training period for the NYC – a ritual I followed for the better part of a quarter-century:

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Just Be You

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I used to run a lot of 5K races.  I never won any, but I enjoyed running as fast as I could for just over the three miles that those races cover.  I’d race against other runners, but in actuality, I would really be racing against myself.  

A few weeks ago, I ran my first true 5K race in six years. 

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Reaching, Failing, Reaching Again

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I am a marathoner.

In less then three weeks, I’ll be running the New York City Marathon. This will be my 25th lifetime Marathon and my 10th New York.

I have always said that I will run forever.

Nothing has ever stopped me before. A torn Achilles? Nope. Stress factures? Nope. Other aches and pains and the like? Nope.

I just kept moving forward. (I did have surgery to repair the Achilles, but got right back at it afterword.)

Nothing ever stopped me… except… me.

Nothing ever stopped me, until I did. Or, better said, until I almost did.

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Running and Writing

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Writing and running.

Running and writing.

My mind is full of words and sayings that are helping to continue to push me ever forward…

My personality is such that I can’t help but set goals, push to reach them, and then dream of bigger and greatest things.

“They say I’m a dreamer, but I’m the only one…” (John Lennon)

“Good is the enemy of great.” (Jim Collins)

“Good enough, never is.” (Debbi Fields)

In just over fifteen weeks, I will be running the Pittsburgh Marathon (with my son Ryan).

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If I Can, So Can You!

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I was never a gifted athlete.

I was often picked last for the sports teams on the playgrounds and even in gym class.

I never played varsity baseball (my favorite sport.)

I got cut from the freshman soccer team.

The only skill I really have is the ability to focus on a task, stay committed, and get the job done.

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23,753

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Twenty three thousand, seven hundred fifty three.

That’s the number, for all intents and purposes, give or take a few…

23,753.

It seems kind of silly.

But that’s what it is.

***

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30-Mile Week

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The 2021 NYC Marathon is 17 weeks, plus one day away.

This week, two weeks before my real “training” begins (aren’t we, as runners, always in training?), I took a GIANT leap forward.

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Marathon Training Update, 2021

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It will be three years since my last marathon when I step up to the (crowded) start in Staten Island for the 50th running of the New York City Marathon in November.

Three years and an Achilles surgery.

This will be, for me, Marathon Number 22 in all. It’ll be my eighth New York.

I love New York. And I love this race.

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Chronicle of a Comeback (vol. 23)

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That was a huge step back.  

As I said some of the words above aloud, they sounded like “set back,” but this was anything but that.

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Chronicle of a Comeback (vol. 21)

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Slow and steady makes the race.

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