Grok021


My remaining ideas earlier than the NYC Marathon . . .

Since shifting to New York in 2007, I’ve been impressed every year by the tens of 1000’s who run our streets on marathon Sunday and by the tens of millions who line the course to cheer them on.  It’s an occasion that modified me lengthy earlier than I ever skilled for it. 

You see, lengthy distance working was by no means my factor.  As a child rising up with bronchial asthma, I prevented it.  And as time went on and my physique trended for the more serious, I figured I wasn’t made to run.  Once I tried doing it, I actually felt that method.  I used to be sluggish; I used to be in ache; and I couldn’t breathe.

However being within the crowds on marathon Sunday, made me notice that we’re all able to extra.  There are those that courageous the hilly course in wheelchairs; these with impaired imaginative and prescient who run to their guides’ directions; and lots of others with disabilities who remind us to not be restricted by no matter shortcomings we now have.  They usually dare us to dream to have even a fraction of their braveness sometime.

Images courtesy of @nh_photogenic

After which there’s the tens of 1000’s of runners of all ranges – from skilled to novice.  Over my years on this metropolis, I’m proud to know many who’ve completed this race.  I’m grateful to have witnessed the dedication it took for them to realize it.  You all impressed me to do that!

That is successful the day — for each runners and spectators!

So, whether or not I used to be born to be a marathon runner or not, I made myself one!

As I sit right here simply days earlier than the race with my coaching full, I actually admire what it means to have made myself a marathon runner.  It means following a plan for the previous 19+ weeks that took me far out of my consolation zone.  It means giving up a few of my favourite summer season actions like climbing and skydiving to prioritize coaching.  It means going to mattress early at any time when attainable.  It means leaving events early – and sober.  It means caring for my physique – each when wholesome and injured.  It means not letting my harm develop into an excuse however having the persistence to offer it the time it wanted to heal.  It means having this race devour my each thought at instances.  It means having this ambition dictate what I eat, after I sleep, how I work out, and what I’m prepared to do outdoors of that and work.

It means, I’m able to run Sunday’s marathon!

Good luck to the roughly 55,000 of us which can be working on Sunday, and because of all those that have adopted this journey and supported me alongside the way in which.  Be at liberty to trace my race progress on The Official NYRR App (Apple) or (Android).  My bib quantity is 58523, and my begin time is 11:30 AM. Hyperlinks to my playlist are beneath together with the ultimate stats from coaching.  LFG!

Aaron

Last stats from coaching (June 15, 2025 – October 25, 2025)

  • Whole exercises:  114

  • Whole runs:  71

  • Whole milage run:  421.9

  • Shortest run:  3.1 miles (5K) (a number of instances)

  • Longest run:  20 miles (October 11)

  • 5K tempo enchancment:  17 seconds – 9:23/mile (June 24) to 9:06/mile (October 7)

  • Earliest run:  4:22 AM (June 19)

  • Newest run:  9:39 AM (June 21)

  • Relaxation days:  26

  • Ice baths:  62

My marathon playlist (on Apple Music and Spotify):

Whole miles run per week of coaching:

  • Week earlier than coaching started: 15.2 miles

  • Week 1:  23 miles

  • Week 2:  20.7 miles

  • Week 3:  23.2 miles

  • Week 4:  20.6 miles

  • Week 5:  25.75 miles

  • Week 6:  24.2 miles

  • Week 7:  27.8 miles

  • Week 8:  22.4 miles

  • Week 9:  29.2 miles

  • Week 10:  24.0 miles

  • Week 11: 9.95 miles

  • Week 12: 0 miles

  • Week 13: 0 miles

  • Week 14: 26.55 miles

  • Week 15: 30.0 miles

  • Week 16: 25.7 miles

  • Week 17: 29.05 miles

  • Week 18: 25.15 miles

  • Week 19: 24.75 miles

  • Week 20: TBD (~11-12 miles scheduled)

  • November 2, 2025: prepared for 26.2!

See the hyperlinks beneath for the opposite posts in my marathon coaching sequence:

  • Inside my “official” marathon coaching – 20 weeks to race day!

  • Marathon coaching – scorching as (bleep)!  19 weeks to race day!

  • Marathon coaching at 4 weeks – Sacrifices and outcomes!

  • Know when to say when – a bit of about marathon coaching and a bit extra about life

  • An important lesson I’ve realized on this journey

  • I do me! (an replace on marathon coaching)

  • Ache: A second of bodily and psychological wrestle

  • The plot twist in my marathon journey

  • The emotional curler coaster of health

  • The ability of visualization

  • My targets for the NY Marathon