Running Zaidy

Inspiration comes in all kinds of different ways. I've written about three runners who inspire me and hopefully will inspire you. Today I want to talk about inspiration from the spectators at a marathon. They provide us with much needed inspiration during the race. Be it the signs, the cheering, or the calling out of our names they are a big part of what gets us to the finish line. Let me give you a personal example. Towards the end of the race just outside Central Park with about 1/2 mile to the finish line I was completely out of gas; not even fumes. I was running (if you can call it that) on an injured ankle and it was killing me.  There was a group of spectators cheering me on. Somehow they gave me a shot of adrenaline and I was able to sprint past while high fiving them. To this day I don't know how I did it! But let me tell you about Emily Litman. The NYC marathon crosses five bridges. The start is the Verrazano. Then there are: The Pulaski, Queensborough, Willis Avenue, ...

Here is something I wrote a while ago and posted to a bunch of Facebook Running groups. I got a very good response. A few people told me that they downloaded, enlarged, printed, and hung it on their wall at home!

As I was finishing my run a few weeks ago I saw a runner wearing a NYC Marathon tee shirt. I approached him and said "I have one of those too!". We talked and took selfies. His name is Ron Friedman and is from Brooklyn. I then had the honor and privilege of running with him and had a nice conversation as we ran together. Ron ran the NYC marathon last November. He is 76! That's what I call inspiration! If he can do it you can spend 30-40 minutes of exercise 3-4 times per week. After the race Ron was interviewed by a local TV station in New York. You can see it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24MnjUKchEQ He talks about his health challenges and why he decided to run the marathon. Well worth the watch!

When I posted my request about Bill Bucklew on the running group I had no idea what the response would be. Many people commented and one of them was  Kamal Julka. Kamal has Epilepsy and Parkinson's.  She posted a picture. She is standing on the Verrazano bridge wearing a cape. On it is written "I have Parkinsons & Epilepsy, if I can you can".  In the August/September 2022 issue of Woman's Day magazine there is an article called Against the Odds. It features 6 extraordinary women who have done extraordinary things. Here is the piece about Kamal. That's inspiration!!

Many people have told me that I am an inspiration. I usually answer them "From my inspiration to your perspiration!" But seriously, my only hope is that they move past the compliment and take up some sort of exercise. In the next 3 posts I will highlight a runner who has and continues to inspire me. I'm hoping that they will inspire you also. Each of them embodies the expression "There is no such thing as I can't" At the NYC Marathon last November I met a very special person. His name is Bill Bucklew.  Here is what happened. The marathon starts on Staten Island at the foot of the Verrazano Bridge. We cross into Brooklyn and run north on 4'th avenue. At some point at about mile 6 I noticed a runner  wearing a jersey that said that he was running for Parkinson's research. There were a few other runners with the same jersey. The difference was that his was blue and the others were white. Figuring that he was the head of the group I ran up beside h...

Now that you are motivated to take better care of yourself let’s talk about how to stay that way. Hopefully you’ve taken the first steps (pun intended) to a healthier way of life. But once you start how do you make sure to stay the course? Perhaps you’ve started an exercise program and are starting to cut back on your food (Vitamin K) intake. The first couple of weeks you see some results, you’re down a few pounds and you are feeling better. But now is crunch time. The initial weight loss is tapering off and you start to realize that you are in it for the long haul. This is where people get discouraged. Just look at all the treadmills for sale on Craigslist in February after the new year resolutions wear off! Or the treadmill you use to hang your shirts, pants etc. I can tell you from my own experience that staying motivated is the hardest part of the journey. I struggle with it every day whether it’s getting out there on my daily run or making the right food choices. You see me runn...