Posts Tagged with: "New York"

There was no doubt about it. As I stood in the coral of Buffalo Marathon last May 24, 2015, I was certain that I chose the best race I could after a string of World Marathon Majors the past years. While finishing the six World Marathon Majors was a dream come true and exposed me to the world’s biggest and best races, I still believe that small, intimate marathons have their own beauty. I was ecstatic to be standing among the almost 8,000 runners in this race. (more…)

After Chicago Marathon, it was almost a no brainer to hop on over to one of my favorite cities in the world, New York!  It was to be a short trip before heading home, hence we wasted no time in exploring the Big Apple. (more…)

Woah.  This is the coolest thing!

ASICS launched the “Support Your Marathoner” system for the New York City Marathon next Sunday.  It will activate the RFID tag attached to runners’ shoes. As the runners run through the course, the tag will trigger special messages of love and cheer sent by friends, family, and supporters to the runner  on an LED screen as they pass it. The three screens will be located at Miles 9, 12 and 22.

I’ve registered for this already and it would be awesome if you could send in your messages for me.  It would be great distraction from the cold (expect temp of 8C and scattered showers daw. Brrrr!) or the pain…or both!  Thanks in advance!

Here’s how to send your message:

1. Visit Support Your Marathoner website

2. Use this data:

Name: Jaymie Pizarro
Entry Number: 797217

Thanks in advance!

For more info, read THIS article.

Ever since I became a runner, all roads have become my playground.  From paved roads to treacherous trails, whether in my city or a thousand miles away from home, you name it, I have considered making my mark on it with my running shoes.  Needless to say, for a runner like me, my idea of adventure is to explore the world through running.

To say that I am excited about the coming months’ running adventures would be an understatement.  I cannot wait to pack up my running gear and run these races I’m signed up for:

• October 16: Guam Koko Race – 21km
• November 6: New York City Marathon – 42k (Thanks to Gatorade!)
• December 4: California International Marathon – 42k

It’s a lot of pounding for the recently recovered feet, so I’m practicing some restraint (and wisdom) and I’m planning to enjoy the runs at a good, easy pace.  Yes, yes, I’ll try my very best to do so even if CIM boasts of a negative elevation course which is one of the top 6 fastest running courses in the US that’s popular for allowing a lot of runners to qualify for Boston.  (Crap)  Yes, I will have to bite my lips, hold back, and remind myself to take it s-l-o-w if I want to preserve my delicate feet.

I wish I could take you all with me, but since I can’t do an Oprah and surprise you all with free plane tickets hidden underneath your seats (thank God you don’t have seats!), I’ll just lug around a camera and share the sights and sounds of my grand adventures.  Fine, maybe, I’ll eat some extra dessert for you, too.

What’s the best part of the marathon for you?

The common answer is, of course, the finish line. Words cannot explain the fulfillment one feels after running the long and arduous 42.195 kilometers of a marathon.  Other runners will answer the start or perhaps midway when they encountered a helping hand, a discovery of their inner strength, or simply feeling second wind when they were about to give up.

My answer? What I love most about the marathon is the training.  I love that raw, nervous feeling in your heart when you’ve found the perfect marathon training program, as you sign up for the race, or just day dream about the marathon.  I love waking up in the wee hours of the morning to meet friends for a long run, half of which will be done in the dark before the world awakes.  I love crossing out each run feeling like I deserve a medal for pushing myself hard each and every single time.  I love feeling fit and light and strong during the months leading up to the race and, even more, seeing how my body changes, how muscles suddenly pop out of nowhere, and the weight melts away.  Truth to tell, I love the journey—every single part of it, including sweat, tears, and pain—more than the destination itself.  The race is just icing on the cake.

Tomorrow, training officially begins for New York City Marathon 2011.  The program I’m using is from the FIRST program pulled out from the book Run Less, Run Faster (available at Runnr).  I am so ready!

– My marathon folder holds all my training programs from the past. It has my Nike Hood to Coast, Singapore 2009, Condura, HK, NYCM 2010, and now NYCM 2011 program. On the left is inspiration provided by Little Miss Bull Runner –