Goodbye 2019, Hello 2020

Hi. You may not know me and that's alright. I've gone through a lot of changes these last few years. A few years ago, I could barely walk a mile without pain. I weighed closer to 300 pounds than 200 pounds and wore braces on my knees. I decided to make a change and went to a registered dietitian for help. She recommended I add movement besides just changing my diet, even if it was only walking an extra lap around the block. After losing the first fifty pounds, I was excited to see it was possible. I started walking faster and eventually the walking turned to a slow jog. I downloaded a Couch to 5K app and started going out every other day. By 2017, I was under 200 pounds where I have remained though the past three years.

Broad Street Run 2017

In 2017, a friend convinced me to sign-up for a bib to run Broad Street. She said with my luck I'd get one and could transfer it to her since she never gets in. Well, wouldn't you know we both got bibs. She told me I could sell it on the message boards but it became a matter of pride. I was going to do it. I  downloaded a calendar of the recommended training schedule and on May 7, 2017, I crossed the start line. Two hours and eighteen minutes later, I crossed the finish line. I again completed the ten mile course in 2018 and 2019.

Rock'n'Roll Half Marathon 2018

In 2018, I decided to try something even harder. I had already run 10 miles, so what was another 3.1? With that in mind I registered for the 2018 Rock 'n' Roll half marathon. I also started attending some group runs through Philadelphia Runner. In 2019, I ran the half marathon again.

Additionally, I've done tons of local 5Ks throughout the year including Rocky Run and Global Energy Run. They've been fun and helped fuel my continued motivation to train. At Philly Run Fest this year, I hit my personal record of finishing a 5K at about a ten minute pace.

2019 was not the best year for me. While I've continued to run I've had a few setbacks in my personal life. I know it's not an excuse, but I gained back some of the weight I lost during this crazy year. Well, 2019 is over and I'm not going to sit around and gain back the rest in 2020.

I'm not going to make excuses. I'm going to make changes.

I know I need a goal to keep myself motivated so that's where I sat down and thought about it. Then I turned on Amazon and the "based on a true story" movie Brittany Runs a Marathon was recommended for me. While watching the movie, I noticed a lot of similarities between myself and Brittany.

So that motivated my 2020 goal. I'm going to run the NYC Marathon on November 1, 2020. That's right, I'm going to run 26.2 miles through all five boroughs of the city I grew up in. The lottery for a bib opens on January 20th and I'm hoping to get one at the bargain price of $295. If not, I'll be joining a charity team. I haven't decided yet between ACS or LLS. Both teams raise money for cancer research but while ACS is all cancers, LLS is specific to Leukemia & Lymphoma. If I go the charity route, I will need everyone's help because there's a minimum fundraising goal of $3200.

Goodbye 2019, you were not a good year but you're gone and I'm still here. Hello 2020. It's nice to meet me.