Aruda Runs NYC

I'm running the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon and chronicling my training here. Join me as I prepare my mind, body and soul to tackle 26.2 and get inspired along the way!

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The Marathon: One Week Later

I did it!! Last week was an amazing blur but I ran the NYC Marathon and finished with a smile, which was my only real goal :) 

I am so grateful for the amazing weather I had (sunny, 60, gorgeous), especially because it was sandwiched between windy/raw/cold/rainy days. The crowds lining the course were incredible, bringing to life the vibrancy, energy and passion that IS the DNA of New York City.

When people ask me why I live here or what the difference is between Boston and New York or LA and New York, I always tell them: the energy. New Yorkers and people who visit here a unique and powerful energy that’s hard to describe but it’s something that’s unmistakable once you’re in the presence of it.

Now onto the race itself. The first half was rougher than the second for some reason. By mile 7 or 8, I felt exhausted and overheated and ready to give up. I was trying to beat six hours but I was pushing myself too hard to keep up (even with a walk/run pace). But after seeing friends and my wife (and doggie!) at mile 11, I felt rejuvenated and decided to just have fun and not worry about my time. So I did just that.

I took the time to stop and talk to people (coworkers and friends who waited to cheer for me) and walk/jog alongside other people going through this same marathon journey with me. I had an absolute blast. From dancing alongside a drum corps on 1st Ave to jamming to live musicians in the Bronx, to being offered “marathon juice” (bourbon) as I crossed back into Manhattan at mile 22 (I respectfully declined). The last two miles were the hardest, and there was nothing like seeing my wife right before I hit mile 26. The last .2 miles feel like another full marathon but crossing that finish line is everything.

All of the photos of me during and post-race are absolutely insane but I don’t care because I had so much fun and I’ll always remember that feeling. I didn’t break any time records (and only shaved a few mins off of my very slow Boston Marathon “PR”) but I still did it. I completed the NYC Marathon. And I felt amazing afterward. Tired and sore, of course. But I was in great spirits and had the energy to make jokes, laugh and dance around on the subway ride home. It was a world away from how I felt after Boston or any other race.

I’ve never felt more love for the people of New York City, the running community or for my amazing circle of friends, family, and colleagues. I won’t be signing up for another 26.2 anytime soon but I will be tackling some half marathons in 2019. If anyone is looking to be inspired, have fun or test their body and spirit to the limit, I highly recommend running a marathon. And if you’re lucky, New York is the best place to do it.

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Less than a week to go! I’m feeling: 

excited

anxious

encouraged

ready

nervous 

hopeful

inspired 

empowered 

energized 

loved

This will probably be the longest (or maybe fastest) week EVER but I’m trying to hydrate, stay energetic and count down til Sunday! <3

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just a reminder to myself from one of my fave artists, @jayroeder on Insta (follow him, he makes cool stuff!) to trust my training, trust the process and have FUN doing this damn thang. 

I’ve been having a bit of marathon anxiety as the clock ticks down (literally - watch this NYRR clock tick down to race day and tell me your heart doesn’t beat faster!) to less than 30 days before the big day. 

It could be nervous energy, fear of the unknown, fear of failure. Whatever it is, I’m channeling it for my last LONG run (20 miles! eeee!) tomorrow. Going to work on repeating my running mantras, which as of late are: 

YOU CAN, 

S L O W   D O W N, & 

RUNNING IS A PRIVILEGE - you GET to do this. Buck up, Ash ;) 

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How Compartmentalizing Can Help with Long Runs

I like very simple math (U + Me = Us, anyone?). There is something oddly satisfying about tracking miles and milestones in a clear, black-and-white way.

Even more than simple math, I like things that distract me from realizing I’m running incredibly long distances instead of enjoying a boozy brunch (like say, 15 miles on a random late September Saturday). Since running is mostly mental anyway (something I’ve really come to believe this training cycle), I realize that I use simple math tricks and mental games to help fool myself (and my body) into thinking I'm just running a series of smaller spurts.  For example, when I was training for the Boston marathon in 2015, I was scheduled to run 16 miles on my 30th birthday. There was still snow and ice on the ground and I was terrified of rolling an ankle (and of the blistering cold), so I opted to run those miles on the treadmill. I turned it into a fun game where I broke the run up into four shorter runs (on four different treadmills around my gym). I did something like 5 miles first, then 3, then 4 miles and then the last 4 (that equals 16 right?) I must have looked like a nut but it helped me SO much. 

I do this while running outside too (say, in Central Park loops). This weekend, I’ll likely mentally break my 15 miles into three five-mile runs. And when I struggle to get through the second and third little five-miler, I’ll break them in half to 2.5 runs so I can celebrate the small victories (”halfway through this short run!”) 

It reminds me of Kimmy Schmidt “you can survive anything for 10 seconds” mentality, but it works for me! It’s likely what I’ll do on race day (just four five-mile runs plus a quick 10K at the end!) since it’s worked pretty well for me in the past with half-marathons.

If anyone on the internets is even actually reading this, how do you mentally prepare or get yourself through a run? 

xoxo, 

-a.

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it’s been FAR too long since I’ve posted here but that doesn’t mean I’m not training. In fact, I’ve been SLOGGING miles all summer. Between the heat/humidity, I’ve been balancing outside runs with the trusty ol’ treadmill. I’m feeling really good (and MUCH more trained than I was for Boston), though these next few weeks will be grueling. I’m committing to posting at least once a week for the next 6-7 weeks or so until MARATHON TIME! Can’t believe it’s coming up so quickly. 

To everyone who has asked me, “how’s marathon training going?” or who has cheered me on via Instagram or IRL, THANK YOU <3 Just the fact that you even THOUGHT about me running is so lovely and I appreciate you. 

More to come soon!

xoxo

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“Never be afraid to start over.”

One of my favorite SoulCycle instructors said this during a class a couple of weeks ago and it struck a chord with me. I know it’s totally cliché (usually I’m swearing under my breath in spin class, trust me – it’s typically FAR from spiritual for me). But she said this in context with learning from your failures and pushing forward. Because I’ve fallen out of my regular running and fitness routines, I am essentially starting over with training for this marathon (20 weeks to go!). So as a refresher, I’m recapping a few things that I did learn from my first time around (Boston) and hopefully I’ll remember to apply these learnings to my training for NYC:

Slow TF down. I have a tendency to equate speed with “good” but that’s not always the case. I have a bad habit of going out too fast at the beginning of a training run or race and then exhausting myself before I’m even halfway done. It’s hard to mentally slow down, especially when my running tunes (Skrillex, anyone?) tell me otherwise. But I’m learning to listen to my body and my training schedule and that’s a good thing. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. 

It really is mostly mental. Yes, you need to physically train and push yourself further than you EVER thought you could go when training for a marathon. It’s so easy to get in your head and convince yourself why you can’t or shouldn’t do something, or why you should stop or phone it in. I’m trying to squash that voice this time around and celebrate the voice that tells me I’m a badass. 

But you still have to put in the time. Don’t skip too many long (or short!) runs. Commit to yourself. Again, it’s easy to try to give your body what you think it wants/needs (which if you’re as persuasive as I am, can equal bud light and brunch), but you’ve gotta put in the time and effort. Marathoners are made on rainy Saturday mornings, on scorching Tuesday afternoons and they’re made on 3-mile, 5-mile, 10-mile and 20-mile runs along the way.

Have fun! This is voluntary. Sometimes I need to remind myself that I chose this because I like running or at least the feeling I get AFTER I’m done running. But I try and smile as much as possible during my runs, even if it makes me look like a sociopath. It makes a difference. Plus, making strangers in NYC feel uncomfortable is an added bonus.

Remember: you’re only in competition with yourself. I love the quote “comparison is the thief of joy” because it’s really true. It’s only human nature to compare ourselves to other runners but in a solo sport like running, you’re only trying to beat your own personal best so be fierce competition but also go easy on yourself if you need to.

Of course, I learned many other tactical things about running along the way, from how to properly hydrate, to which caffeinated Shotblok flavors were the best (no question – black cherry is a clear winner). And in case you need it, here’s another article that rang true for me: 9 Things No One Tells You About Training for a Marathon. From addressing fear to digestive issues (ugh) to dealing with annoying friends/family who aren’t the most supportive of your training schedule, these are other real marathon running truths.

Happy training!

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Hard to believe Global Running Day (my fave holiday that’s not REALLY a holiday) is almost here again. I’m still in my “pre-training” phase of marathon training and my twenty-week program kicks off in mid-June but so excited to celebrate this Wednesday with a three-mile jog around Brooklyn. The weather is supposed to be 71 degrees and partly cloudy which is lovely running weather! 

To learn more about the mission of Global Running Day, click here.

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Ashley, why do you have a blog?

Hi and thanks for stopping by. If you’re here, you likely either know me IRL from work or school or you’re related to me. Or maybe you just searched “NYC marathon” and needed some motivation. I’ll be chronicling my training for the 2018 TCS NYC Marathon here. The countdown to November 4th is on!

My goal in 2018 is to finish feeling strong (in under 6 hours) and give my training my 110%.

This will be my second full marathon. You can check out my blog from when I ran the 2015 Boston Marathon here. I have also run a handful of half marathons and countless 5Ks, 10Ks and other races. 

I’m keeping this blog to keep myself accountable, be consistent with my training and hopefully learn something about myself along the way. 

If you’re running NYC also or have run it before and have any pointers, I’m SO open to hearing any and all of them! <3