You know you got it bad when just reading the application procedures for the ING New York City Marathon makes your heart beat faster with excitement, makes you want to clap your hands at your desk with anticipation. (Okay, yes, I was on nrr.org during my lunch break again.)
I know for sure that I ran my 9 races in ‘07. But I haven’t received my email alert from them confirming what we both (me, and Mary Wittenberg) know to be true. To wit:
Guaranteed Entry Options
Those who are eligible for guaranteed entry must still apply. Guaranteed entry applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on May 1, 2008.The following groups are eligible for guaranteed entry to the ING New York City Marathon 2008:
• Members of New York Road Runners since January 31, 2007, who completed at least nine NYRR-scored, qualifying races during the calendar year 2007.
[. . . ]
If you meet the above requirements, special instructions will be sent in January. (If you don’t receive the instructions by February, apply with the regular lottery application. After you apply, send an e-mail to marathonmailer@nyrr.org with a short note mentioning why you qualify for guaranteed entry.)
So, since it is no longer January (F*** Me! Where did the month go? But that’s a whole nother post), I guess it’s up to me to put my name in for the lottery, and then follow-up with an email asserting my guaranteed status. I could piss and whine about how even this, my recreation and my passion, requires follow-up (don’t I do enough following up for my employer?). I could harp on about overused ideas like, you get back what you put in, or, you’re training for a marathon, don’t expect any of this to be easy.
But, really, I don’t even care. Not really. I’m completely stoked to be running New York this year, finally able to run in the historic footsteps of some of the best marathoners the world has ever seen, and to be able to experience the 4-hour, 20-something minute cheerfest that will be my race through the five boroughs. Wait, hang on a minute — I need to pause and clap my hands together in glee.
Hurray!!! My goal is to be guaranteed for 2009, but I may apply for lottery this year. I haven’t decided yet if I’ll be up for it training-wise… but who am I kidding, I have the crazy runner’s bug and will probably get all into it
If not, I’ll be part of the cheering masses along the way.
Defintiely put in for the lottery. Or you could run for charity. If you end up not getting a bib number, let me know; I already have a cheering corner selected for my band of supporters!
How is the training coming? What has been your longest run so far? I have been accepted for this years NY marathon and ran it last year and also 10 years ago. Good luck.
My training is going very well! If you look at my more recent mosts, you’ll see my updates. Good luck in your own training — you have course experience, which I don’t have, which will help you.