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About
My Infrequently Updated Blog. The web-based journal of M. Forde, computer nerd, endurance athlete, and DeLorean owner
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Giraffes
Eat. Run. Sleep.
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Pre-Race Thoughts
Last Saturday, I sent a letter to the Giraffes mailing list. I've
decided to post here.
In March of 2008, Brian told me I was running a 5K with The Giraffes. He
didn't ask and he didn't give me a choice. Two days later I got off the
couch, got on the treadmill, and started running. Six weeks later I ran
my first race with this team. This team saved my life that day.
Nine months later and a hundred and one pounds lighter, I got this crazy
idea in my head. I decided I was going to run a marathon. I thought, if
I'm going to run a marathon, I'm going to run the biggest marathon in
the world. I'm going to run the New York City Marathon.
I did some quick research about how to get in and found the 9+1
qualifying method. A couple of days later, I told Brian I was going to
spend 2009 working toward guaranteed entry for the 2010 NYC Marathon.
Almost immediately, he sent out an email to The Giraffes saying, "Mike
and I are doing this and so are you." I'm paraphrasing, although it was
quite close to that.
So on January 10, 2009, five of us piled into the car and drove to
Central Park on a frigid Saturday morning and began our journey with the
Fred Lebow Classic.
We continued to run, and picked up some new members along the way. Some
with an impressive history of ultramarathons, and some just starting
out.
Those of us who first set out that day in January reached our goal and
qualified for NYC 2010.
At some point we decided we should run a marathon prior to NY, to get an
idea of what we were really getting into. We chose Philadelphia, and for
several Giraffes that day, it was our first. It was the day we joined
the ranks of the one tenth of one percent of the population who can call
themselves marathoners.
While training for Philly, I fell in with a group of runners from my
hometown and began running with them. At first it was short runs during
a 5K training program they were running, but soon thereafter, they began
including me in their longer training runs on the weekends. They
introduced me to a number of other runners. Eventually I convinced (most
of) them to sign up for the Giraffes mailing list.
For the past two years, I've run with these people, the original
Giraffes and the runners who have joined us along the way. And through
it all, this team is what has kept me going. Through inspiration,
through motivation, through friendships, through training runs and
races, you've kept me going. You have been my support system.
And now I sit here on the eve of the New York City Marathon, less than
24 hours from the start of the race, less than 24 hours from realizing
our goal we set for ourselves so long ago.
To all of you who have been with me for this journey in some way, shape
or form... To those who got the team started and pulled me in, to those
who saved my life... To those who persevered through qualifying races
under grueling weather conditions with me... To those who got food
poisoning with me from Macaroni Grill the night before the Scotland Run
10K... To those who got me through the last 5K of Philly... To those who
made the 22+ mile training runs a little more bearable at the end... To
those who have shown their support in any way they could...
I offer you my eternal gratitude. I would not be where I am today
without all of you. I love you all.
One final note. To those of you joining me in tomorrow's running of the
New York City Marathon... Kick ass and chew bubble gum.
--
M. Forde
"Running never takes more than it gives back."
[/running]
[permanent link]
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