It’s settled then. I’ve decided (with help from my PT Danielle) that my body can handle the Baltimore Half-Marathon. So, on October 10th at 9:45 (the latest race start in history) I will head out with thousands of others and race around the city of my alma mater, the city of John Waters, The Wire, and the O’s.
I told myself to stay calm in case of an emergency change of plans (since that seems to be my M.O. this year), but I can’t help myself. I love being part of the throng, I love getting gritty, I love zeroing in on the finish. I booked my hotel, my train, and have sorted out when I’ll go to the expo and to visit DM and IM (Friday afternoon and Saturday late lunch). CB will be down for the event, too; if Dan can make it, they will come and cheer for me somewhere between miles 10 and 11, which is when I get closest to their apartment building.
There’s a lump in my throat when I think about it: running with my Team Fox singlet on (finally), and seeing Dan, IM and CB on the side of the road as I go by. I have raised about $8,000 so far, but am hoping to get to $10,000 by October 10th. Towards that end, I emailed all my colleagues in my publishing group asking for donations. I am always bowled over by their immediate and generous responses.
Obviously I won’t be PRing, so I am approaching this race with a whole different mindset. No doubt I will still be nervous and jittery the eve and morning of, switching back and forth between being a chatterbox and a clam (EN I will miss you in the corral). But I want to try and run this half-marathon the way I ran my first marathon, and the way I celebrated at my wedding reception–unhurried, soaking it all in so as to remember every step, every vignette, every turn and image that I may catch from the corner of my eye. If Dan can indeed make it to the sidewalk to give me a cheer, I will stop and greet him. I may even run with my blackberry, so I can tweet and take photos. I will put my name on my singlet, I will wave at the crowd, I will crack jokes and spur on the other racers. My half-marathon will be about exalting that my body can do it, and about dedicating each mile to Dan.
I am really excited!
Learn more about Dan, and why I am running for this extraordinary man.
Pigtails Flying 
Keep up the good deed and good luck!
TK you are so awesome. I truly believe this race is going to be incredible for you. And who knows, unknowingly you may PR without even trying. Dan is truly lucky to have you in his corner. I wish I could be there to cheer you on, but I am cheering you on in my heart!!!
Awe! Well, it would be a miracle for me to throw down a pace faster than 8:18’s for 13.1 miles… I’d settle for low 9’s.
That’s such a GREAT attitude. I hope that I can take that on as Nike approaches!!
TK, I’m so happy that you’re gonna do this. I cant imagine how much blood, sweat, wine, and tears went into your preparation; but I know its all gonna be worth it when you get off the train in Baltimore, & when you line up at the coral (I’ll be there in spirit), & when you see everyone at mile 11, & when you cross the finish line, & when you finally hug Dan afterwords.
Thank you EN… you do have a pretty good idea what it was like for me, though.
I love the way you’re all “I might run with a Blackberry and tweet” as though a half marathon is what people do in a normal day. Well, maybe normal people do. Shit. This means I may in fact, not be normal.
I’d have to run with an oxygen tank and a team of people willing to carry me.
ps- Am I retarded or does the donate page not take paypal? I couldn’t find it and would like to throw a few sheckles at my favorite running freak. (That’s you, by the way.)
Kim I am so sorry but apparently Michael J Fox only takes major credit cards thankyouverymuch! Surprising, since he’s, you know, CANADIAN.
Awesome TK!
I’ll take a look to see if I can make it up to Baltimore at all that weekend and cheer you on (I’m about 45 minutes away), but I know it’s a busy weekend with Jewish Holidays (simchat torah) and a big-numbered High School reunion.
If not Baltimore, we’ll try New York again…
I never did reply to your should-I/shouldn’t-I post. In the end, I figure, what the hell, go for it. Glad you agreed.