MORE Marathon

MORE Marathon, the only Marathon and half exclusively for women 40 and over! Over 10,000 women joined together in Central Park to celebrate living well, loving life and supporting each other to live your best life.

I planned this trip six months in advance. One of our Mind Body Fit Club members had suggested we meet in NYC for this event. I was game, so I quickly signed up and began training.

We met in New York City a couple of days before the big race. We enjoyed dining in Soho, a one man show in Noho, and the world's best cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery, according to the Oprah show. They really weren't that over the top, but a yummy treat before running a Marathon. We figured we'd work it off.

Come race morning, we all jumped on the subway to make our way down to the start line. I was to be running the full Marathon 26.2, and the rest of our group was signed up for the half 13.1.

I approached the start line only to find no one there. One of the race officials let me know they canceled the Marathon due to record heat of 90 degrees projected for the day. This was extremely disappointing news, after all, I trained for months, and traveled 3,000 miles! I was told to go to the start line for the half marathon and participate.

As I was running the half marathon, I couldn't help but think how cool it was that all of these women, all shapes and sizes, Moms, career women and grandmas, all running to celebrate their lives. It was inspiring to be amongst them, and to be included in that mindset.

The day was hot. They were smart to have cancelled the big 26.2. I kept dousing myself with water at every station to ward off the heat. At that point I was thankful I was only running 13 miles.

At mile 12, I ran past a group of women that were severely tired. I overheard them speaking to eachother, saying "I can't do this, I'm done, I don't think I'll make it..." Call me nosy, but I felt the need to invite myself into their conversation. I encouraged them with one line. I said, "Come on ladies, YOU GOT THIS!!!" It felt good to share the love. They will never know who I was, but I can only imagine they will remember those words, because after I ran by I could hear them shouting to eachother, "That's right, You got this, We got this"!

Crossing the finish line is always a huge feeling of accomplishment. I don't care if you've run one race or one hundred, the feeling is always triumphant. I do it for fitness, but selfishly I do it for confidence. The mindset I have learned from running I am able to apply to other areas of my life. It helps me to persevere.

This day was not to be my first big Marathon. It just wasn't in the cards, so when I returned to my hotel room I went straight to the internet and signed up for the Rock N Roll Marathon in San Diego just one month later.

New York was a blast, and I plan to return next year. Will you join me?

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