Secret Marathon Goals + Life Updates

After watching the NYC Marathon on Sunday, I became SUPER motivated to run. I actually planned my run for the weekend around the fact that I’d be waking up early to watch the NYCM and knowing I’m always itching to lay down some miles after seeing other people racing. (I also now want to sign up for every race available. Spectating, even on TV, is dangerous.)

My plan worked: As I was running I was still getting updates from the tracking app with the splits of my friends who were crushing it on the streets of New York. And with my smiles came an increase in speed.

I guess you could call it a progression run, although I didn’t plan it that way.

As I was running, I was thinking about how incredible it is that by chasing your own dream, you give other people “permission” to chase theirs. I love watching marathons because they’re SO motivational for those on the sidelines. I mean, I teared up watching the NYC Marathon, and I’m really not sure why. It was one of those “why am I even crying?!” moments. I’m so inspired by the guts and determination that marathoners exhibit; I usually don’t witness anything like that in my day-to-day life. A marathon is such a huge platform to encourage change and influence others. I don’t know if I feel that way because I’m a runner and I know what it takes, or if non-runners feel the same way…but it’s seriously incredible.

It renewed my excitement for marathon training and reminded me of a crazy-scary time goal I have. A goal that would require A LOT of dedication and focus and is wayyyy faster than my PR. But I want to believe I can do it. I DO believe I can do it. With time, of course. But I’m still too nervous to write it down and share it with the world. P.S. If you know someone who has taken a lot of time off their slowest marathon time, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE share. I mean, I’ve taken almost an hour and a half off my very first marathon…but can I continue dropping minutes? I hope so…but I’d love some real-world stories as encouragement. As Kacy Catanzaro explained when I interviewed her at the espnW Summit, once you see someone else do what you thought was impossible, it opens so many doors and so many more people will believe they can do it…and then will actually do it.

Now I just need to figure out how much time I need and what marathon I want to make my goal race.

In other news, I started a new job at a yoga studio! It’s only part-time, but I absolutely love it. My breath was taken away the first time I walked in; it’s such a gorgeous studio. We light deliciously refreshing-smelling candles (if “refreshing” has a smell, that is) and there’s an outdoor space with a little fountain that’s so peaceful. The people I’ve met have been so welcoming and kind and I’m really looking forward to spending more time there.

It’s definitely not enough to pay the bills so I’m looking for something else as well. It’s so weird to not be in a corporate/cubicle-type job. It’s not that I hate working in the corporate world, but I hate that my lifestyle is a lot less healthy when I sit at a desk all day. When I was working in NYC I didn’t move as much and I didn’t cook as much. Now I have so much time to do everything I love, but it does come with added financial stress which is super tough.

I’d love to become a health coach or something similar, but for now I just need to get back on my feet so I can pay bills, wedding expenses, etc. I’m inspired by my wonderful friend Erin who left her corporate job a couple years ago to pursue her passion for fitness and now has an amazing new job that she loves. And it’s absolutely perfect for her. I hope I can make that happen for myself.

Hmmm…what else is new with me?

On Halloween I started the morning with a November Project workout on the beach in Santa Monica. It involved pumpkin tossing and attempting to sprint on the sand which is freaking hard.

This was my second time attending a November Project workout and I’ve made a couple friends already. I’m excited to continue going! On Fridays they rotate through different locations in LA and I’m bummed because the Santa Monica one was close to the only (I think) Dunkin Donuts here. (Yes, that IS a valid reason to be upset.) They’ve been there for a month and now they’re moving on to a new spot. Ohhhhh well.

Doesn’t the sky look ominous? It rained on Halloween night and I was overly thrilled. I’ve only seen rain once in the 2 months I’ve been here.

Andddd that’s all the excitement in my life right now.

What’s new with you? Does race spectating motivate you, too? Have you dropped a million minutes to get to your current PR? Do share!