A Journey To Health and Half Marathon

Do you remember your first race? Your first half marathon? Your first full marathon? Even if you haven't run your first half marathon or full marathon YET, if you are a runner, you are probably a sucker for an inspirational story about.... running.  We have been working on something amazing and we are almost ready to share it with you. We have been thrilled to watch a transformation right before our eyes over the past year. I cannot wait to tell you all about it. 

One year ago this man stood at the finish line of a half marathon at nearly 280 lbs. He watched countless runners cross the finish line. Fast, slow, fat, thin, young, old and everything in between. He watched each runner claim a victory that he never thought he could have. Then he realized that he could become one of them. In one year, he changed his life. Watch for our video series of his journey to health and to the finish line of his first half marathon. Let him prove to you that anyBODY can do it.

This weekend, Anthony will the Long Branch Half Marathon. There is no sob story behind this transformation. No extraordinary circumstance that he had to "break free" from. No lavish "fitness ranch" that he stayed in to get healthy. No expensive chef or personal trainer standing over him and making to make sure he did everything right. No extreme diet and no surgery. This is what makes his victory so extraordinary. How did he do it? We will tell you very very soon.

*****

Check out our race:
The 2013 Spring Celebration Virtual Marathon (26.2, 13.1, 10K, 5K)

On Building A Better Body

 Haven't you had enough? Go.  Get yourself back.

I wrote this for This Is A Woman.

On Building A Better Body

For as long as I can remember, the media has been selling a perspective to me.

The perspective the media sells says I'm flawed.  I need to look better.  I need to be thinner.  I need to hide my imperfections.  I need to pretend they don't exist.  I need to pretend I'm something else:  maybe taller, lighter, brighter, wealthier, more educated, more interesting.  I have to look they way they say I should look.  I have to wear what they are selling.  If I can't wear it, I have to try and change myself so that I can.

And if I buy what they are selling, I can't do all of this.  It's impossible.  So there have been times in my life when I have been trapped.
Have you ever been trapped by what they are selling?

How many shoulds do you have? 

I can't go to the beach because I don't look they way I should in my bathing suit. 
I don't want to go out because I should look better than I do right now. 
I will not graciously accept your compliment because I know what I should look like, and I don't believe you.
I can't enjoy the day until I have my makeup on, my hair just right, my clothes covering anything that isn't as small as it should be.
I won't be photographed because I don't like how I look, I believe I should look better than I do.

Don't mistake me.  I am not a helpless victim to what the media sells.  I chose to buy it.  There is no gun pointed at my head.  There is no one forcing me to believe what I see/read/hear.

Dear Boston Marathon Supporters (a letter to you from the mother within me)

If the Boston Marathon means anything to you at all, I am writing this for you. Even if you only watched the race from your smart phone, computer, tablet, or television, please read this note. Even if you will never qualify for Boston, or don't even know what I mean when I say "qualify" this is for you. If you were there, whether miles away or right at the finish line, this is especially for you.

Dear Boston Marathon Supporters,

You did not deserve this. In an instant you were robbed of your joy. Without warning, you became victim and witness to something no one should experience. I hope you are now in a place where there is some comfort and some solace.

You don't have to be strong right now. You don't have to decide that you are going to show the attacker(s) you aren't afraid by running a race every other weekend as proof that they didn't scare you. There's no shame in crying and obsessing and making a list of everyone you know who might have been out there and checking on them to see if they're ok. You are allowed to be relieved and happy for awhile, in spite of this tragedy, upon discovering that your friends and loved ones are safe. You are allowed to feel angry, betrayed, ripped off, and hurt- even while others are less fortunate than you right now. All of these things still hold true even if you don't personally know anyone who was in Boston on this horrific day. I am so sorry this ruined your spirit and excitement. I am so sorry this happened to you.

It's ok if you are wishing you could do something to help, but you aren't sure what you can do. It's ok if you are doing nothing to help right now. If you need time to process this, take it. You don't have to be a tough guy or a hero right this second.

Tell someone how this is making you feel. Talk to someone/e-mail someone/text someone, or tweet or facebook rant. Whatever you need to do. Get it out in the open. You do not have to mourn or suffer alone.

Set down and take the time you need for sadness, fear and anger, but do not let any of these own you. Set down and acknowledge the presence of these emotions and allow them into your world for awhile, but make a promise. In the name of those who were lost, all who were injured, all who were eyewitnesses, and all who ran their hearts out and were brought to a screeching halt, promise that you will rise and run and continue to believe in this sport. Promise that you will someday soon stand at a finish line and cheer for friends and complete strangers in the wholehearted way that only runners understand.

It's ok if you're down right now, just make sure you never ever count yourself out of the sport you love the most because of one horrifying act.

I love standing at the finish line waiting for you just as much as I love crossing the finish line myself. So no matter which side of the line you and I are on, I hope to see you very soon.

With love and hope,
Tina


*****

Check out our race:
The 2013 Spring Celebration Virtual Marathon (26.2, 13.1, 10K, 5K)

Seven Things I Learned The Hard Way As A Runner

I started thinking of all the random things that I learned AFTER running a handful of marathons.  In November 2011, I wrote a list of what your mother never told you about running marathons, I had only run two of them.  Now that I have planned my sixth marathon, I have more to add.  Opting not to follow these suggestions won't kill you. But why make unnecessary trouble for yourself?

1. Wear sunblock for every long run, even on a cloudy day.

My NJ Marathon "tan."
Hey, at least I'm not Snooki-orange.

Our First Spring Celebration Virtual Marathon Finisher

Congratulations to our first Spring Celebration Virtual Marathon finisher Sutah Robins! While most of us are still planning our virtual race date, she signed up and ran 26.2 miles the next morning! What an inspiration! Thank you for supporting Jersey Rising!

*****

Check out our race:
The 2013 Spring Celebration Virtual Marathon (26.2, 13.1, 10K, 5K)