Every year, two weeks after the TCS New York City Marathon, the New York Road Runners hold their sole ultramarathon of the year: The New York City 60k. This is a 37.2 mile endeavor that takes runners around….and around….and around….and around….Central Park. For the uninitiated: Central Park consists of three specific “loops”. The Lower Loop consists of a 1.7 mile road that goes in an oval from the southernmost part of the park to the 72nd street transverse. The Middle Loop consists of a 4 mile oval from the 72nd street transverse to the 104th Street transverse. The Upper Loop goes from the 104th Street Transverse around Harlem Hills. One entire loop of park translates to about 6-6.1 miles.
On Saturday morning, at 8am, I’m going to try to complete this 60k. I’ve tried three times, and I’ve failed three times. Twice I’ve failed because I lacked the stamina – I was still too burnt out on running after the marathon. Once – I lacked the heart. I just quit on myself. That’s been gnawing at me all year – the fact that this is the only race that I have ever DNF’d is irritating enough. The fact that I DNF’d last year simply because I lacked the damn heart to push myself through discomfort is causing me to chomp at the bit for this race. In 2015, I pushed myself well past what I thought was my limit with regard to endurance or pain threshold. I was hit by a car, and kept going. I came face to face with a mountain lion, and I kept going. I injured myself more than once, and I kept going. Needless to say – this year I have some unfinished business.
I’m going to be representing two teams during this race. The first is Do Away With SMA – my charity that I started in 2014 to honor my brothers and fight Spinal Muscular Atrophy, the number one genetic killer of kids under the age of two in the world. The second is the New York Road Runners team for Kids – the charity that provides running programs for kids in an effort to fight childhood obesity. Both are solid causes, and both can use any assistance you’d care to donate. I’m asking you to consider a donation to either cause, for both of them are doing their best to help those that need it. Any donation will help their missions. Here’s the information, if you are interested in contributing:
Do Away With SMA: Do Away With SMA
Team for Kids: New York Road Runners Team for Kids
I’ll be posting live on Facebook on Saturday, just to give you all the jist of what this type of race is like during my 9 laps around Central Park. Wish me luck…I’m going to need it!!!
