Running Series Part 1: Road to the NYC Marathon

With 20 weeks to go, my countdown to the 2016 New York City Marathon has officially started! WOOO!!!! And as I begin a very strict training plan, I find myself struggling with it.

I started running in December of 2014 as a way to fight high levels of anxiety (or as I like to call it "being a 20-something creative" living in NYC) that I was experiencing. After my first 5K I was hooked; I had finally found something that worked for me. Before I knew it I had achieved one of my greatest goals: Qualifying for the 2016 New York City Marathon. I felt unstoppable, I was running with some of the best times I've ever had (considering I was a running newbie). And at my best, I was finishing a Half-Marathon in a little over 2 hours.

And then I moved to MIAMI......

At first I thought, "Amazing, I'll be able to train all year long" and in the beginning, that feeling was incredible. But don't be fooled by the charm of such beautiful weather. As summer quickly approached, I felt the intensity of the humidity hit me like a pile of bricks. Being a native New Englander, I had never been exposed to such tropical climates, and unfortunately my running took a big hit. I found myself breathing harder than usual, and running at a pace that most experienced runners refer to as "power walking". How terrible, how could my running change so drastically in just 6 months? I could feel my personal disappointment begin to upset me, and with it, those ugly feelings of self-doubt. Then it hit me, my biggest fear slowly seeped into my mind, "Will I be prepared to run a marathon?"

I realized in that moment I had to start over again. My training as I knew it had to completely change to accommodate the tropical Miami weather. More importantly, I needed to learn how to NOT psych myself out. In my quest to re-train myself, I decided to join a running club with the hope that it'll keep me motivated throughout my training, as well as being surrounded by a community of runners who can relate to my current love-hate relationship with running.

My first race in Miami is this Monday, a 10K, and as excited as I am, I also find myself having pre-race jitters. It's my hope that I can focus a little less on the heat and not get psyched out, and enjoy the experience. Wish me Luck! 

If anyone out there has experienced moments like these, I'd love to know how you avoid getting psyched out in the comments below