Monthly Musings - Fundraising and other awkward endeavors

I would like to start out at Mile 1 thanking all of you for supporting me in my decision to run the TCS 2014 NYC Marathon. Since I made the decision an entire year before the race, I've had a very long time to start my preparations before the official training. Support comes in many forms and I really appreciate all of you that donated to my fundraiser, talked me through some initial fears, kept my spirits up through my injury, ran with me and/or provided great advice during the early months. I am sure I have driven some of you nuts with my incessant marathon talk so I'm aware I'm treading on thin ice. Unfortunately, I process things externally so that usually means those around me get bombarded with several drafts of my thoughts or constant updates on my feelings. I'm hoping this blog will help me channel all of that in a more productive (and less annoying) manner. Okay, on to the musings.  

There are three ways to become eligible to run the NYC Marathon. You can get a guaranteed entry if you have run a previous 1/2 or full marathon within a qualifying time. For women in my age bracket, that qualifying time is 3:10:00 for a marathon and 1:30:00 for a 1/2 marathon. You can get a non-guaranteed entry by signing up for the lottery. This method does not require a qualifying time but your spot is not guaranteed. The third way to become eligible is by signing a fundraising agreement with a marathon eligible charity and raising funds. Since I can't imagine (a) ever reaching the speeds necessary to have guaranteed entry and (b) sustaining my desire to run the marathon past a year, option 3 was my only choice.   
  
Initially, I found the idea of fundraising terrifying, mainly because you have to put yourself out there in a very vulnerable way. Everyone you know is now aware that you are undertaking a major endurance test at which you could possibly fail. They have contributed funds to your charity so that you can qualify to run and will most likely want to know how it is all going. You can't send an email saying, "Please donate to this charity on my behalf so that I can do something super top secret and I will not be supplying any updates or information. If you ask for updates, I will END YOU." I just don't think that would go over well.

As much as I envy those runners that qualified or got chosen in the lottery and can run the marathon anonymously, my vulnerable position has its perks. As an amateur, I know that I will greatly benefit from not only having physical cheerleaders on the sideline but also the motivation to finish it for all of my supporters, not just for myself. If I were running anonymously, you can bet that if someone enticed me with a Papa John's mushroom and pepperoni pizza or a Mrs. Field's Cookie Cake at mile 20, I would leave the race in a heart-beat. Instead, in the face of such temptation I will have to ask myself, "What Would My Supporters Think?" Once again, pretty sure that opting to gorge myself over finishing the race would not go over well. So, thanks in advance for unintentionally keeping me on the straight and narrow. I'm thinking I need to get a WWMST bracelet made before November. 

Not only does the threat of disappointing my supporters provide excellent motivation, but I've found that sharing my journey with everyone I know also results in some amazing interactions. I was rather unprepared for some of the reactions/comments I got when when people learned of my plans. Some people just stared at me blankly, a bit confused. Perhaps I've lived for too long in large urban cities that host marathons because apparently some people don't quite understand marathons. No, it isn't just an Olympic event. Yes, with proper training I should be able to finish. No, costumes are not mandatory but thank you for offering to make me a cat one. Okay, that last one was more wishful thinking but below are my 3 favorite real comments so far.  

Comment #3: "Have you received your doublet yet?"  

Once we hit the halfway point in our fundraising, the team sends us our official singlet which we will wear during the race. It looks like this:

Singlet Glamour Shot


Below is what a doublet looks like. Sorry, I couldn't dig up a doublet in time to post a picture of me wearing one because they were sold out on Amazon. As amazing as they are, I'm pretty sure doublets are only given out for the Westeros Marathon. You really need the extra fabric during miles 11-15 North of the Wall.


 
Amazing doublet-wearing man 


Comment #2:  "You can definitely run a marathon while pregnant."
I've been attending many baby showers recently for friends and family and this gem of a quote came up during one of those celebrations. Afterward, I laughed so hard about it but I recently looked it up on the internet and women do run marathons pregnant! The image of a pregnant lady running a marathon both horrifies and impresses me to no end. It just seems a bit wrong.





Comment #1:  "that sounds awful . . ."
A short and sweet response to my email announcing my marathon plans and soliciting donations. This one is my favorite because it is so honest.  Running 26.2 consecutive miles IS awful. According to legend, the first human to run a marathon DIED right after. The best part of this comment is that my friend very generously donated to my cause. I now know that I can depend on him to support all of my future endeavors.

 


Keep those amazing comments coming my way! But seriously, I really appreciate the interest, no matter what form it takes. Now somebody get started on that cat costume...