Marathon Year

I have quite a lot to celebrate as I mark another year around the sun. Back in December, I wrote about running and plans to enter a marathon in 2016. I am really looking forward to the Reykjavik Marathon in August, this will be my first time in Iceland, unless I do a stopover there first in June en route to or from meetings in Helsinki, Finland.

Snapshot from email received 8 March 2016 from NYC Marathon

On a whim I entered the lottery for the New York City Marathon, and last week while I was in Morocco I received the surprise news that my entry was one of over 19,000 accepted through the lottery drawing. I will be one of 50,000 runners on 6 November 2016 in NYC! Over 125,000 people entered the race, so I know that I am very lucky to have been selected for November. It's very exciting and has me nervous at the same time.

This will be quite the experience. None of us know exactly how much time we have on this Earth, why not spend it enjoying life, seeing new places, learning, challenging one's self and others. I've been lucky to work with an inspiring person who said some wise words recently to keep striving. Running 26.2 miles (twice!) this year is only a small part of the striving I am doing. I'm lucky to have a supportive family and great friends who are helping me through the training process. I will have more to write about on these runs during the year.