The Calm Before...

Happy June, oh faithful readers!

It seems like only last week we were wearing jackets and shivering on the cold hard streets. Oh, wait. That actually was last week.

But now? Now it is fully SUMMER. My Super installed my AC and Archie and I are in good shape, staying cool in our little apartment.

For a runner, heat is a mixed thing. On one hand, no more jackets and layers and gloves and headbands! Oh the other hand...the sweat.

I'm still feeling the post-race PR high after the amazingness that was The 2013 Brooklyn Half. I've still been running and cross-training (I did a Barry's Bootcamp just this morning, in fact!) And I've even been trying (unsuccessfully) to keep up with my hashtag #OnceAWeekYoga.

You're supposed to say hashtag before you write the # right? No? Internets...

I haven't had a gap between race training for almost a year. Just boom, boom, boom one right after another. And now, I have a lil' space to relax and reflect and re...DRINK!

NYC Marathon Training Take 3 begins officially July 1st. For the moment, I'm going to do my best to run a few times a week, but to run however long I please. One mile...six miles...whatever feels good and right and appropriate at that time for that day. I'm also not going to plan my life around working out the way I tend to do when in training mode. I'm supposed to run, but someone wants to do happy hour? Happy hour it is. I want to really enjoy this time and give my body and myself the break it really deserves.

And then, it's starts. Again.

Because there is a GLARING omission from my medals

You guys. Honestly, this is getting a little ridiculous. I now have three YEARS of back posts of me starting to run the NYC Marathon. There was this post that started it all and then this little upbeat diddy when I made my triumphant return from injury last spring.

But now I have hashtag #actually run a marathon and I'm just not gonna play anymore. NYC, you and I have a long awaited appointment. I'm not even kidding this time.

My Dad asked me if when I run NYC in November I was going to bring darkness or plague or the slaying of the firstborn. Not cool, Dad.

...Because maybe it's true...

Let my Marathon Go!!!!

But I feel good about 2013. For one thing, this is my fourth time training for a marathon so...not to sound pompous...but I'm pretty good about talking about running marathons.

This year I also know a lot of people running, which will be great not only for the moral support, but also to coordinate training runs since you KNOW I ain't doing 20 miles on my own.

Team For Kids is not able to accommodate us sad 2012-ers for the 2013 training season (since they have new fundraising hopefuls to take care of!) But they are being nice enough to include us on emails and give us access to the coaches. We also had the option to pay a small fee to take part of the great race day perks that we rudely were denied last November.

So I'll wear my lil' jersey from Miami again with my lil' name on it.

The first year when I trained, it was all about pushing myself to do something I wasn't sure was possible. The second year it was coming back from utter, complete devastation. This year? I'm doing this thing for me. Because I now know I can run a damn marathon. So this is about running this marathon in my city. After Sandy in NY in 2012 and then Boston this past April, this is going to be a special one. And I'm not doing it for any other reason other than that I am incredibly stubborn I want to.

So what to write about? I've covered the newbie starting out topics...and injury recovery....and then getting back into it as a more "experienced runner"....and improving times with smaller races....now what?

We'll see. I think I still have a lot more to say. And if nothing else, I can just continue to bring you Favorite Things. Such as Henry Cavill, best known as Superman in the upcoming Man of Steel movie. Lesser known as the most gorgeous thing ever in the Showtime program The Tudors.

Enjoy: