I love two things in this world – running and food.
(Please ignore that first sentence if you’re my family or boyfriend or every dog in New York City. I’m trying to start this thing on a declarative note.)
Running and food are intimately related, as any carb-loading athlete knows, but especially so in my life. Had I not loved food quite so much in my first 25 years, I may not have made the life-changing resolution on Jan. 1, 2011 to lose 30 pounds. And had I not set that goal, I might never have reluctantly agreed in an e-mail four days later to join a group of friends in the 10-mile Broad Street Run in Philadelphia on May 1. And had I not responded all to that perky e-mail, I perhaps never would have traded in my twice-weekly elliptical jaunts for a Hal Higdon novice 5K plan and – one year later – a new resolution:
To run a marathon.
(My other resolution this year is to floss. My boyfriend thinks it’s sweet that I have a “hard” goal and an “easy” goal, but – to be honest – after four days of dental floss usage, I’m not so sure I know which goal is which. But I digress. )
I’m launching this blog in order to track my progress from a casual Central Park jogger to hopefully a successful marathoner over the course of the next 10 months. I’ve learned a lot of things about motivation and moderation in the last year, but considering I honestly only looked up the definition of ‘fartlek’ this morning, I know I still have quite a bit to learn. Ideally, this blog will allow me to document that education, share some recipes and tips, and help keep me accountable when it comes to my running goals. (Accountable, eh? Perhaps I should launch a flossing blog, too.)
My first race of the New Year – and my first race ever with the New York Road Runners – will be the Joe Kleinerman 10K on Saturday. A new racing distance for me, I’m guaranteed a PR even if I crabwalk, but stay tuned anyways for a race recap and/or some photos of big city dogs in sweaters. I forgot about dogs in sweaters – I guess I love three things in this world.
What are your 2012 resolutions? And more importantly, how many of you just googled fartlek?
Riled Up Runner 
Yay so exciting!!!! You’ll love training for a marathon. Can’t wait to read about your progress!
ps: I started flossing nightly for Lent a few years ago and haven’t stopped. You can do it!!
pps: I know I am supposed to give something up for Lent not add something, oh well
Thanks, speedy lady! I’ll be in and around DC far too often this spring, so let’s plan some long runs/post-run butterbeer tastings together.