Run!This is my official announcement: application lottery permitting, I am going to run in the 2006 NYC Marathon.
This will sound ridiculous to most people that know me. I am 5’10” and weigh about ~208. That is not a marathoner’s figure. I also have a bad back and the cardiovascular fitness of an 89-year-old with emphysema. Plus I don’t take the stairs two flights up unless I have to.
Still, watching the marathon has inspired me. Friends who have trained for and completed the race have inspired me. Knowing that each passing year makes it less likely that I will be able to get into marathon-shape has inspired me. Losing over 30 pounds in the last 18 months has made me think that it is possible.
And so I am going to go for it.
Congratulations to the 2004 winners: Hendrik Ramaala (RSA) and Paula Radcliffe (GBR). Congrats also to US top tenners Meb Keflezighi (2) and Ryan Shay (9).
With that, I give you my marathon joke, one that is unlikely to ever see the stage because it is already dated and I didn’t think of it until Sunday morning:
